A Dance of Souls
Through captivating movement, the piece reveals the hidden struggles, triumphs, and enduring dreams that drive every passionate dancer.
Words Donavil Angeles
Photo courtesy of Areté, Mari Dance, and Joyce Garcia
September 17, 2025
This October, Mari Dance, a creative dance agency, takes the stage with “a dance in a day in a dance,” a contemporary dance production that boldly reveals the inner lives of creatives, from the rhythm of their everyday routines to the hidden struggles that hold them back from pursuing their dreams.
Drawn from real, lived experiences, each movement becomes a mirror to something deeply human and universally shared.
Everyday vignettes
A dancer rarely lifts the veil beyond their movements, often choosing to remain intentionally opaque about their journey, favoring the destination over the process. They exist in a paradox: dripping with emotion to convey through dance, yet always masked when performing.
“A dance in a day in a dance” seeks to break the silence that shrouds these artists, revealing the personal, intimate journeys that also deserve to be told and seen.
From a choreographer grappling with frustration, to a dancer’s pursuit of a role, from lifelong friendships to the quiet act of finding one’s voice in a culture of silence, Mari Dance invites audiences into the private rooms where these stories live.
The production aims to bridge the space between performer and audience, leading both into a deeper discovery of what it means to be human.
It will feature five performances that each reflect a facet of the artist’s lived reality. ‘A Day in a Life (Excerpts)’ offers a window into the collaborative and often chaotic process of creating dance.
‘Bent,’ which won first place in the 2014 WiFi Body Festival New Choreographer’s Competition, explores themes of friendship and gender roles. ‘Nothing Special,’ a finalist in the 2019 Yokohama Dance Collection and recipient of the Alvin Erasga Tolentino Koryograpiya Award, gives voice to neurodivergence and autism. ‘Ang Lihim ni Lea,’ based on Augie Rivera’s popular children’s book, is reimagined through expressive movement. Finally, ‘I Wanna Say Something’ tells the story of finding the courage to speak up in a world that often silences us.
Through these performances, Mari Dance offers more than just movement—it offers meaning, vulnerability, and a shared sense of humanity.
The powerful cast
Through these performances, the show poses a question that lingers in the heart of every dreamer: why do we continue to fight for our dreams, despite the setbacks?
Choreographed by award-winning artist and 2024 Asian Cultural Council grantee JM Cabling, the production features a dynamic ensemble of his students, alongside Mari Dance co-founders Michael Barry Que and Sarah Samaniego, who take on lead roles.
Joining them on stage are acclaimed dancers Al Garcia, formerly with Taiwan’s Tjimur Dance Theatre, and Katrene San Miguel, a member of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines who recently completed a season with the Hong Kong Ballet. Both return to the Philippine stage to take on powerful solo roles in this deeply personal production.
The creative team behind the scenes includes Mikko Angeles for direction, Wika Nadera for set design, Arvy Dimaculangan for sound design, and D Cortezano for lighting design, each helping to bring the production's emotional landscape to life.
Mari Dance
Driven by a shared vision for the future of Philippine contemporary dance and a passion for nurturing the next generation of Filipino dancers, JM Cabling reunited with fellow UP alumni and Guang Ming teachers Michael Que, Abbey Carlos, Sarah Samaniego, and Ricca Bautista to establish Mari Dance.
Today, the company plays a vital role in shaping and exploring original contemporary dance in the Philippines, creating work at the intersection of critical thought and creative expression.
Their choreography not only reflects contemporary life but also helps shape it, believing that dance and lived experience are in constant dialogue, each continuously reshaping the other in a fluid and ever-evolving exchange.
The show, co-presented by Areté and in partnership with Guang Ming Dance Project, will be performed at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté, at the Ateneo de Manila University, from October 10-12 and 17-19.
Tickets are priced at 1,800 for premium and 1,500 for regular, available at https://ticket2me.net/event/22521. Alternatively, interested attendees may also buy directly via bit.ly/a_dance_2025.
