International Dance Day Fest is back
Get ready to be touched to the core by some world-class dancing.
Dynamic cultural hub Circuit Makati is gearing up for a weeklong festival in honor of International Dance Day from April 23 to 27. To be held in the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, the festival will bring together over 1,200 of the best local and international dancers and choreographers from various companies showcasing different genres of dance. Multiple disciplines will be represented, including traditional folkloric dances, contemporary movement, classical ballet, and paradance, which blends dance with wheelchair accessibility.
“International Dance Day is a celebration of inclusivity; a reminder that dance is for everyone, whether you are a professional dancer, a passionate enthusiast, or someone experiencing movement in your own unique way. Dance truly transcends boundaries,” said managing director of Samsung Performing Arts Theater and Circuit Makati’s Arts & Culture manager Chris Mohnani at the media launch of International Dance Day Fest on March 27.
The festival comes on the heels of Art Fair Philippines, another annual art event cementing Makati’s reputation as a purveyor of arts and culture. It is fitting to hold IDD Fest at Circuit Makati, which has evolved into a thriving ecosystem for artistic collaborations.
Dancing on the same stage
Now in its second year, IDD Fest will continue to showcase the grace and artistry of Filipino dancers alongside global performers. For the first time, the festival is welcoming multi-award-winning British choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor CBE and his acclaimed Company Wayne McGregor. He is one of the world’s most respected names in contemporary dance.
His presence, as well as his company’s, helps fulfill one of the festival’s objectives, which is to let local dancers interact with various companies. Appropriately, the festival this year runs on the theme “Dance for all.”
“This (festival) is so important for Philippine dance in many ways,” said Sophia Zobel Elizalde, founder and director of Steps Dance Studio, at the media launch. “A big part of our work in teaching dance is for our students to be exposed to many different companies not just in ballet but also in street dance, contemporary dance, folk dance. This is the week to… immerse yourself in everything going on.”
Echoing Elizalde was Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, artistic director of Ballet Manila. “Any festival is always exciting because it brings together artists from different groups,” she said. “It’s so unifying, energizing, and inspiring not just for the audience but for the artists who are all sharing the same stage.”
To provide a sneak peek into what the festival has in store, members of the media were treated to a short program featuring a few of the companies who would be taking part in IDD Fest. A duo from the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group performed Pindulas, the Yakan dance of newlyweds. Contemporary group UNRVLD got things going with This Is Why I’m Hot. Ballet Manila hit the mark with Satanella Adagio. Mari Dance, another contemporary dance company, delivered a soulful rendition of Excerpts from Recollection Suite. Wrapping up the program was a duo from the Philippine Para Dancesport Team, who touched everyone in the audience with their strength and grace performing Show Dance.
A spectacular tapestry of dances
On April 23 at 7:30 p.m., IDD Fest will kick off with a highly anticipated opening night gala featuring Company Wayne McGregor. They will present the Philippine premiere of Autobiography (v105), a dance portrait that can’t be more unique, inspired by the sequencing of McGregor’s own genetic code. The company will also hold a special workshop and masterclass, giving local dancers a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most innovative forces in contemporary dance.
A portion of the proceeds from the opening night gala will go toward the Artists Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI) HMO fund.
Each day of the festival following the gala promises a lineup of companies all ready to celebrate dance.
- April 24: The Folk and Traditional Dance Gala. A spotlight on the country’s national dance companies, equally known as cultural ambassadors who showcase the Philippine cultural heritage on the world stage
- April 25: The Street Dance Gala. Some of the biggest and most active street dance groups in the country today will be here, building energy onstage with the electrifying movement and rhythm of urban dance.
- April 26: Ballet Gala. It is classical artistry at its finest, uniting all four of the Philippines’ professional ballet companies alongside guest artists from Hong Kong Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
- April 27: Contemporary Dance Gala. Diverse dance styles will be centerstage, featuring some of the country’s best contemporary dancers, with special focus on artists outside Metro Manila.
Complementing the live performances, Fifth Wall Fest, the country’s only multidisciplinary movement group, will showcase site-specific works to demonstrate that dance can transcend the stage.
For audiences who still can’t get enough of dance, there will also be a dance market and bazaar throughout the festival. On hand will be dance paraphernalia, exclusive merchandise, and dance-related gadgets.
Macuja-Elizalde explains the universal allure of dance: “Dance is a language that everybody understands and can relate to because it is a body moving in space that will eventually move you as an audience member. You may laugh or cry, or discover something about yourself that you didn’t think was there before. In order for that to happen to you, you have to go and watch the performance.”
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Tickets to International Dance Day Fest 2025 are now available at Ticketworld.
International Dance Day Fest 2025 is brought to you by Ayala Land, Make it Makati, Circuit Makati, the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, with additional partnership support from Ayala Corporation, the British Embassy Manila, and the British Council.
