Dance Sutra 2026 Challenges Choreographers to Choreograph ‘Here and Now’ as Continuous Condition of Existence
News Bulletin No. 23
By: Regina Angelica Bautista-Verzosa
Tagaytay City, Philippines — May 21, 2026 — The Guang Ming Dance Project (GMDP) awards new winners for the Dance Sutra (7th Edition) Choreography Competition last April 24, 2026, ensuring that creating dances is a vital part of honing the school’s creativity.
Dance Sutras is the annual choreography competition in Guang Ming College (GMC) founded by Paul Alexander Morales and Michael Barry Que that started in 2018. The competition features two categories: Choreography, open to dance majors only, and Open-Style Dance, open to all non-dance majors. As a creative platform, the competition encourages participants to explore their capacities in conceptualizing, choreographing, staging, and performing original dance pieces. The Open-Style category further expands accessibility of contemporary dance, welcoming members of the Guang Ming College community who aspire to create and perform, regardless of specialization.
This year, the competition continues its two-category structure, allowing both dance majors and non-dance majors to participate. The theme “Here and Now” hinged on the question, “What does it mean to fully live within a moment?” It invited participants to examine what it means to fully inhabit a moment through movement. Rather than treating time as something that permits return or progression, the theme frames it as a continuous condition in which the body exists. Choreographies are encouraged to explore presence, sensation, and sustained attention—revealing how meaning emerges when a moment is deeply lived and embodied.
The production is a vital part of the various BPAD classes: PAED 105 Production Methods, which requires students to learn how to create a production and lead all aspects of the show; PAED 103 Choreography 2, which requires students to master composition; and PAC 106 Theory and Criticism for the Performing Arts, which teaches students how to curate a production, the Dance Sutra 2026: Here and Now. The production was headed by the 3-BPAD as a practical exercise of their elective Production Methods, and a creative work for Choreography. Other BPA Dance students across 1st to 4th years all served as production assistants, ushers, and other creative roles.
Under the Choreography Category, the First Prize went to Riane Ruaya, Second Prize to Gab Montańo, and Third Prize to Martha Laniog. Ruaya, who also performed his piece, presented a work about nostalgia and care, making use of a cloth to create shapes and flow in his choreography. Montano was ambitious in bringing in a design attached to the roof with garters tied to his dancer, Leo Ruaya. The work creates interesting imagery of tension and release. Lastly, Laniog, inspired by “Pitik Buya” technique from her aunt, Ma. Elena Laniog, presented a paired down piece with KJ Canata as her dance, easing through the dynamic movement language that exhibited flow and punctuations. Choreographers Adrian Valle, Ashleigh Campilan, Jezriel Santiago, and Thea Orden showcased their ability to choreograph. Valle’s work narrated the life of an individual living with HIV or AIDS and brought the audience to clubbing, dancing, and tiring out. Campilan explored the repetitiveness of exercise, Santiago his injury, and Orden the life of a ballet dancer.
Of his win, Ruaya stated:
“Achieving the victory means a lot for me, because proving to myself that all my struggles, sacrifices, and passion for dance are worth it. As a dancer, it’s not all about receiving an award, but also telling my story through dance, expressing my emotions, and showing my growth as a “Hulma Dance Project” and a proud member of Guang Ming Dance Project.”
Meanwhile under the Open Style Category, First Prize went to Lorenzo Tuazon (BPAT), and Second Prize went to Harris Rivero (BPAT). Tuazon’s work narrated his frustrations and anxieties in expressing through writing. Rivero’s work, which he performed with Kheith Dalena, was the only duet in the competition. Through partnering, he explored tensions and shapes between a couple, making use of his Hip Hop influences. Jao Cataurus also showed a daring work that stretched time and space, and Nielle Marcelo created a solo work about loneliness.
Of his win, Tuazon stated:
“With this being the first dance competition I have ever joined, winning was definitely humbling. Indeed, a marvel of the event.”
Additionally between the competition and announcement of winners, 3rd Year BPA Theater students performed “The 4th Dimension” choreographed by Teacher Jared Jonathan Luna. The piece is an exploration of time outside of linearity. It attempts to understand time as a thickness through the compression of its linearity.
The creativity and originality bared by all these choreographers in exploring the theme of stretching time, proved how unique contemporary dance choreography from both dance majors and non-dance majors can flourish in Guang Ming College.