The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, led by its Chairman National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, through its National Committee on Dance led by its head Ms. Shirley Halili Cruz, spearheads the 2018 Dance Xchange: The Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival.
The fest returns to Dumaguete where the first ever Dance X was held. It is a well-attended event of the Commission as it brings in not only the performing groups, both international and local, but also dance workshop participants from educational institutions, local government units, and private organizations. Ms. Halili-Cruz launched the idea of an international dance festival in 2009 to put the country on the map of outstanding dance festivals in the world. This four-day event will be happening on April 26 – 30, 2018 at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines and in various venues all over the province.
The Dance Xchange aims to enhance knowledge and skills of the dancers, dance teachers and choreographers on dances of the different countries as a creative expression of their culture. It also provides a venue for the exchange of ideas, strengthened networking, platform for discussion on the global trends in dance education, and enhanced cultural understanding among dance groups from the participating countries. Dance performances will stage and showcase unique dances of each country inspire and stimulate the creation of new works.
DX as a localized celebration
One of the banner projects of NCCA’s National Committee on Dance, Dance Xchange is widely supported by localities throughout the country. Dance Xchange graced the stages of Isabela (2017), Manila (2011) Having traveled several key cities in the past, Dance Xchange will be hosted and supported this year by the local government of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. Aside from the local support Dance Xchange is officially endorsed by the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.
Dance Xchange is also celebrated in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 154 declaring the last week of April as the “National Dance Week” in the Philippines.
International Participation
Aside from local performances, Dance Xchange will also host foreign delegations who will showcase and share their country’s traditional and contemporary dance practices through workshops and lectures. Among the participating countries are South Korea, England, Hongkong, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, India, China, Bangladesh, Russia, Turkey, and Poland and 26 local dance groups, including groups from the Indigenous and Muslim communities from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila.
The Dance Xchange will have activities such as dance forum, dance workshops to be conducted by dance directors from participating countries for teachers, festival and management workshops, a festival of dance performances, outreach performances, and cultural tour. The NCCA is coordinating with TESDA for certification on Events Management (NCIII) as part of the festival.
The NCCA is inviting MAPEH teachers and supervisors, Physical Education instructors, teachers of the Special Program for the Arts and the Arts and Design Track, dance trainers, cultural officers of the schools, culture and tourism officers of local government units and events and festival managers and enthusiasts.
Dance Xchange 2018 microsite | Dance Xchange 2018 Facebook Event Page
For questions on this press release please contact Mr. Rene S. Napeñas, Head of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office through numbers 527-2192 loc 625 or email your queries to ncca.paio@gmail.com; paio@ncca.gov.ph.
