February, National Month of the Arts is not yet over. In this feature, we are celebrating a beautiful contemporary dancer, teacher and choreographer, Brian San Miguel. The photo above features him at The Cultural Ceter of the Philippines in KORYOLAB 2019 (also CCP's 50th Anniversary celebration), as the lead performer for Daloy Dance Company's longtime dancer and collaborator, Buboy Raquitico's choreography entitled "Mano-fracture".
We asked Brian San Miguel a series of questions about his life as an independent dancer, coach and dance-maker, as we are thrilled to perform with him at British School Manila this March, for a new
Daloy physical theatre piece called “Nature Dances”
Q AND A with Brian San Miguel,
one of our dance-artists for "Nature Dances":
You were part of the Daloy performance at Vogue Philippine's Opening Launch in 2022, tell us more about that experience.
- It was an overwhelming experienced, meeting new people and working with this amazing company. It made me so excited to perform, and it reminded me as an artist to keep my feet on the ground. It was such a great opportunity for me to be part of that Vogue-Daloy project.
Having worked in various projects and dance groups before, what is Daloy's process like?
- I can feel the sense of meticulous process and each of the team player's passion.
What is the most memorable Daloy production or workshop for you?
And what do you think is Daloy's strong suit?
- The most memorable was when I watched Unearthing in 2019. And I admire that over the years Daloy had continued, and continues to innovate. So it's the limitless dancing and innovation.
How do you see yourself evolving or growing in your dance career in the next 5 or 10 years? As a teacher, or more a choreographer, or a mentor, or do you wanna still perform at that time? Do you have long-term goals or dreams?
- How I see myself from 5-10 years, hmmm… I always believe that everything that happens in one's life has a reason for good; life always changes in unpredictable always, and that it's good to be thankful for what one has achieved in life. My career taught me to just keep moving forward without any regrets. I also believe that once an artist, always an artist. Then as a teacher and choreographer, I want my students to keep nurturing the gift of dance in their bodies and lives.
What is your typical day like?
- I spend my days mostly adhering to this routine except for Sundays when I do not follow a specific routine. I get up early in the morning, mostly at around 7 am drink coffee do some few sets of exercises to help myself maintain fit then take a shower. A cold shower makes me ready to take the challenges of the day! I eat my breakfast and then get ready for work. Then dance training afterwork from 7 pm to 10 pm. Take dinner after rehearsals, go home take hot shower to cooldown or release my muscle tensions it feels like releasing my stress and tiredness. Dry myself and go to bed.
You are teaching and performing with Daloy this March, makes you excited about this project of Daloy with British School Manila?
- What makes me excited is to perform again and share my thoughts and knowledge specially with the younger generation I want them to acknowledge the essence of art in dance and understand how magical it is, to inspire them with passion.
What are your dreams for the contemporary dance scene in the Philippines?
- I hope that the contemporary dance community would expand more. And wish the Filipino audience to acknowledge the essence and beauty of contemporary dancing, in the local and international scene, and for more people to see how passionate
the Filipino dance artist truly is.
Brian as a performer with Hiraya Contemporary Dance Company
What have been being an independent contemporary dancer taught you?
Share with us some lessons that you had to learn the hard way.
- Being an independent artist is not that easy but you can always learn something that you wouldn't expect to happen, it can make be you a better and stronger person as you experience hardships to the point that you wouldn't notice that one's you overcome those challenges you feel overwhelmed and proud that you get through experienced those hardships, it satisfies you as a person itself.
What are your upcoming workshops or projects and how can we
contact you, to work with you?
- I hold regular classes on Saturdays and Sundays. The dance classes I offer are classical ballet, contemporary & hiphop. This is at the Rizal Main Branch & Marikina Branch of Amon Performing Arts. Then on February 24, I am part of Hiraya Contemporary dance company for Bodyrock Asia at Solaire Theater.
I can be reached via Facebook and Instagram through the pages of
Amon Performing Arts and Bodyrock Asia
NAME: Brian San Miguel
TITLE: Dance Artist / Coach
AGE: 26
CITY WHERE HE LIVES: Pasay City
Short Profile:
Brian started his formal dance training as a scholar with BPDS - Ballet Philippines Dance School in 2015 under school director Ruby Lee Valente- Gomez. A year after he has been promoted as a member of junior company which BP2 secondary company of Ballet Philippines 2016 - 2018. Participated under collaboration with CCP CHOREOGRAPHERS SERIES 2017-2019 as a performer, under the mentorship with Myra Beltran & Denisa Reyes. He started as a freelance artist in 2019, then joined Hiraya Contemporary Dance Co. He was part of several projects of Daloy Dance Company from 2022-23.
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