Be Entranced Once More with ENCANTADA

March 28, 2023 Art+ Magazine

National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin’s award-winning Filipino dance masterwork returns

Text and images courtesy of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP)
March 28, 2023

To celebrate Earth Month, ENCANTADA goes on stage once again! A collaboration with Joey Ayala for music, Al Santos for the libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal for production design, ENCANTADA features the artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP). It is a showcase of Locsin’s Neo-Ethnic Dance Style as she masterfully utilizes it to explore Filipino folklore, history, and culture, while at the same time bringing awareness to the consequences of man’s destruction of nature.

“Agnes Locsin’s ‘ENCANTADA’ is not just dance for the sake of dancing, but in truth it stands on solid research where Philippine history, folk religion, traditions, and practices are painted into the creation of the whole. Adding to that, this showcases the uniqueness of her movements which she herself conceived in creating her own dance genre - the neo-ethnic style. Thematically, she touches on many themes but most especially, the destruction of the environment; an issue that is still relevant to this day, 31 years after she conceived this masterpiece. It’s well worth a re-staging as well as a re-watching. It’s a learning curve for the younger generation”, shares Tats Manahan, President of ARDP.

National Artist for Dance, Agnes Locsin

Recognized as the pioneer of the neo-ethnic style of dance, Agnes Locsin is a brilliant force in the Philippine dance scene which garnered her the title of National Artist for Dance. Together with contemporary Filipino music composer, Joey Ayala, and award-winning playwright, Al Santos, they premiered ENCANTADA in February of 1992.

Left to Right: Joey Ayala, AI Santos

Agnes explains, “Encantada was the brainchild of Al Santos. Our threesome, Al Santos, Joey Ayala, and myself (Agnes Locsin), was given prior to the conception of Encantada. We had first collaborated in a rock opera back in 1977 at the Ateneo De Davao. In 1991, we decided to come up with another major project. It was also a given that the new work will tackle environmental issues. Al came up with Encantada. Joey and I agreed and Al, being the writer, started with making the libretto and the lyrics. Thereafter, Joey composed, then I choreographed.”

Drawing inspiration from Philippine tribal dances, practices, beliefs, and stories, Locsin reworked and reinterpreted these into the framework of existing classical ballet and modern dance techniques, resulting in a unique dance form suited for the Filipino’s physical frame, temperament, and culture. This Neo-Ethnic dance style coupled with Joey Ayala’s rhythmic contemporary Filipino music, Al Santos’ riveting Libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal’s remarkable Production Design, brought the story of ENCANTADA to life.

Presented by the Metropolitan Theater, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Carmen D. Locsin Foundation, the production was last staged in 2011 to critical acclaim, garnering 10 Gawad Buhay Awards, including Best Modern Dance Production, Best Choreography, Best Musical Composition, Best Production Design, and Best Lighting Design by John Neil Batalla who returns to light the 2023 Production.

Other citations include Georgette Sanchez-Vargas for Female Lead Performance and Carissa Adea for Female Featured Performance. Both of them will reprise their award-winning roles for the current 2023 production.

Left to right: Georgette Sanchez-Vargas, Carissa Adea, Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamangun

Also joining the cast is Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamangun, a highly acclaimed Filipino Dancer and former member of Cirque du Soleil, who will be alternating the role of Babaylan with Carissa Adea.

ENCANTADA featuring artists of CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines runs from April 14-15, 2023 at the Samsung Theater and April 21-22 at the Metropolitan Theater, with evening shows at 7:30 PM and matinees at 2:00 PM. All evening shows will have live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with the Philippines’ World Music Siren, Bayang Barrios.

Left to Right: Carissa Adea as Babaylan Encantada, Encantada 2011 Production Photo, Encantada Photo, Georgette Sanchez-Vargas as the Encantada. Photos by Darrell Sicam.

Show Schedule:

*With live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with Bayang Barrios.

Future Shows:

Alice Reyes’ RAMAHARI

Sept. 15-16, 22-23, 2023

CARMEN AND OTHER SPIRITS, a mixed bill featuring Alice Reyes’ CARMEN and new works by young Filipino choreographers

Oct. 20-21, 27-28, 2023

PUSO NG PASKO, the celebration of Paskong Pinoy

Dec. 1-2, 22, 2023

Subscribe to ARDP’s 2023 Dance Season and celebrate the best of Filipino artistry and talent! For season subscriptions and ticket reservations, email ardancephilippinesinc@gmail.com. For more information, check @ARDancePh on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

About ARDP

Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP) is the newest and most exciting addition to the Filipino dance scene. Its goal is to inspire and transform lives through dance. Born out of the need to give displaced artists a home during the pandemic. Founded by National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes, the company features an astounding breadth of Filipino Works by National Artists and the top Filipino choreographers. It showcases the best Filipino dancers and talents for the local and world stages.