The NCCA-National Committee on Dance (NCD) has been spearheading the celebration of the International Dance Day (IDD) through the Dance Xchange (DX): The Philippine International Dance Festival since 2009 until 2019. Over the years, Dance Xchange has been hosted by Provinces of Negros Oriental, Capiz, Palawan, Isabela, City of Dumaguete, Cebu, and Manila
The IDD celebration aims to help the dance community promote its work on a larger scale, raising awareness on the importance of dance; promote dance in all genre from the different parts of the country; enjoy dance and share its meaning to others; and strengthen network among dance groups from the different regions of the Philippines and foreign dance groups.
The IDD as component of DX 2022 will be held on April 24, 2022, 6:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater, Manila. This is one of the first initiatives in bringing together in a live performance dance groups of varied dance genre performing in a concert after 2 years of being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We all know that DX and the celebration of the IDD continued on as the National NCD headed by innovative and creative chairman, Ms. Shirley Halili Cruz, organized DX on Air with more than 300 dance groups participating. She organized and directed more than 30 DX on Air dance concerts.
The Philippine dance community positively responded to the project as these offered opportunities to continue dance productions. One important lesson from the 2 years of virtual dance concerts is the discovery of many outstanding dance groups from the different parts of the country emerged.
Following the inspiring successes of DX on Air 2020 and 2021, the NCD is pushing for this live dance concert with live audience. While there remain some kind of hesitations in a face-to-face performance, it is important that we attempt at this to provide continued hope of moving forward.
The International Theatre Institute established the IDD in 1982, celebrated every April 29th, to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges No¬verre (1727-1810), the founder of contemporary ballet.
The celebration is intended to create conditions for dialogue and cooperation within the world dance community, and to promote dance art and reinforce its cultural and political position on the national and international levels.
Solidarity with the international dance community is the spirit that the NCCA-NCD brings into this event. Confident that the celebration will gain strong support from the dance community, the local government units, educational institutions and dance enthusiasts.
The messages from the IDD celebrations through the years have encouraged the NCD to hold grand events which will place the Philippines in the map of all international dance day celebrations. This year’s IDD Message is by South Korean dancer Kang Sue-Jin and she says:
“The Covid-19 catastrophe has stopped life as we so freely knew it and being amidst this tragedy makes us rethink the meaning of ‘dance’ and ‘dancer.’ In the distant past, dance was a primal means of expression and communication through gestures, becoming performance art that moved the soul and inspired the audience.
It is a momentary art that is difficult to restore to its original form once completed because it’s created with the entire body and soul. Dance is made of ephemeral moments, which destines dancers to be on the move forever. Yet, Covid-19 has restricted and even blocked the art of dance in its original form.
Even though the situation is improving, dance performances are still subject to many restrictions. This makes us cherish the precious memories of times when dance and dancers sparkled like jewels, conveying human anguish and anxiety, will and hope for life, and illuminated the world.
The lonely and weary audience is thirsty for the sympathy and comfort of the dancers. As dancers, we believe that the flapping of our wings gives hope to the hearts of those who love the art of dance and gives them the courage to overcome this pandemic.”
Ms. Shirley Halili Cruz, the Festival Director of the IDD concert believes that this event will ignite excitement and renewed enthusiasm, ushering the sector into the new normal.
Let us then begin the Dance!
NOBITA – Paano Uusad
Call for Proposal: 2023 NCCA research grants
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) calls for submission of proposal to conduct research on culture and arts. Deadline of submission is on June 1, 2022.
As the overall policy-making, coordinating, and funding agency for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts and culture, the NCCA encourages and supports the conduct of research and the utilization and dissemination of research outputs on culture and the arts.
NCCA support for research comes in the form of awards for individuals and grants for organizations. Research awards and grants shall be given to outstanding projects in 2023:
• Research Award for an Individual (regular) – PhP 300,000.00
• Research Award for an Organization (regular) – PhP 500,000.00
• Community Research (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) – PhP 500,000.00
• Ph.D. Dissertation Award – PhP 150,000.00
• MA Thesis Award – PhP 75,000.00
Projects must be implemented from January 1 – October 31, 2023.
The proponent must meet the criteria described in their chosen category and submit the necessary documents. Proposals may be submitted in any of the Philippine languages. For organizations interested, they must be non-stock, non-profit, and may be a Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) or Peoples Organizations (POs) with the capability to show proof of eligibility to receive and handle public funds.
Complete proposal must be submitted to:
Cultural Dissemination Section
Policy/Plan Formulation and Programming Division
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila 1002
Email: thereselpz.ncca@gmail.com
For details on NCCA research grants, contact Cultural Dissemination Section through thereselpz.ncca@gmail.com
For details on this press release, contact Mr. Rene S. Napeñas, Head, Public Affairs and Information Office through pais@ncca.gov.ph or 0945 788 5698.
May 12, 2022
NATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL ARTIST F. SIONIL JOSE
RECOGNIZING and celebrating his contributions to the artistic communities, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) presents “Parangal ng Bayan Para Kay F. Sionil Jose, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Para sa Panitikan” on May 18, 2022, at 5pm, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).
The National Artist for Literature passed away on January 6, 2022, at the Makati Medical Center where he was confined while waiting to undergo angioplasty. He was 97.
National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto Cabrera will give tribute to his departed fellow artist, after the floral offering. Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert and Jun Cruz Reyes will give their eulogies and reminisce their encounters with Sionil.
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, will perform “Ti Ayat ti Maysa nga Ubing,” one of the late National Artist’s favorite songs. Tenor Tomas Umberto Virtucio, Jr. will sing “Dungdungwen Kanto, with musical accompaniment by guitarist Ricardo Juanito Balledos.
Renowned pianist Raul M. Sunico will play “The Falling Leaves,” with music by Joseph Kosma and English lyrics by Joseph Mercer.
Tanghalang Pilipino artistic director Fernando “Tata Nanding” Josef will do an excerpt from Balete, a theater play based on “Tree,” one of F. Sionil Jose’s Rosales Saga novels which narrates the stories of the Samsons in different generations, intertwining their personal lives with the social struggles of the nation. Another novel from the saga, The Pretenders, has been brought to life by Tanghalang Pilipino, the CCP resident theater company.
Known for his novels and literary works espousing national sovereignty and social justice, F. Sionil Jose was one of the most revered and read Filipino writers whose works have been published and translated into various languages. He was the founder of the Philippine chapter of PEN.
The public are invited to pay tribute to National Artist F. Sionil Jose, following health and safety guidelines. For those attending the tribute, kindly read the CCP protocols for Alert Level 1: https://bit.ly/ccpnewnormalprotocol.
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