We asked Julienne Depatillo a series of questions about his life as an independent dancer and dance educator, as we are so thrilled to have shared the stage with her at British School Manila last March, for a our new Daloy physical theatre piece called “ItikLandia”
What is keeping you busy nowadays, personally and professionally?
- Professionally, I'm busy teaching and crafting classes. It's honestly one of the things that keeps me sane these days. Up until recently, I had been busy with school, studying theology, mission and ministry but I stopped because I had a hard time balancing work and study. And so at the moment I'm just really trying to live one day at a time. These days I find myself doing a lot of "house cleaning" - of my actual house, my mind, my body, and my spirit. And also a lot of caring - for my family, my dogs, and myself.
Julienne in a performance for Association of Ballet Academies Philippines, with IDMM
What are you most passionate about as a teacher or facilitator? What do you hope your students get out of a workshop or session you give?
- I think one of the things I emphasize most as a teacher is awareness – of the self, of others, of the space/environment and one’s place in it. One of my main goals as a teacher is for students to get to know themselves better – get to know how they move, what kinds of movement they like, what challenges them, etc. At the same time, I try to build their outward awareness as well so that they learn to synergize with those around them and not cause anyone harm. It’s a difficult balance to achieve – to be individually true to your design while respecting others in the space. But it’s worth trying.
Julienne sharing her love for dance with her students. She teaches ballet and contemporray and creative moevemnt styles.
You were part of the first cohort of teachers trained as Daloy Movement Facilitators in January 2020, what was that experience like for you?
- It was an enlightening and empowering experience for me. It gave me a concrete yet flexible framework I could work with as a facilitator, and even as a contemporary dance teacher. I still use the exercises I learned in Daloy Movement as prompts for improvisation. But more importantly, the DM values of authenticity, agency, and accountability are still central to my practice as a mover and teacher.
Julienne sharing her love for dance with her students. She teaches ballet and contemporray and creative moevemnt styles.
What made you excited about last March's project of Daloy with British School Manila?
- I’ve missed working with Daloy peeps! There’s always such an amazing exchange of ideas and energies when I’m working with Daloy. The whole process made me excited.
Julienne was part of "Itklandia" by Daloy DC last March. Read more about here in this Lifestyle Asia feature.
What is the difference in Daloy’s process of creation compared to other companies you’ve worked with?
- Collaboration!! Daloy’s process is so open. It was in Daloy that I first experienced a process where the choreographer didn’t just dictate the steps, but actively involved us dancers in every step of the creative process – from movement explorations to crafting the final product(s) to feedbacking and processing afterwards. It was in Daloy where I first learned that the process is just as valuable as the final product, if not even more so.
What is the most memorable Daloy production or workshop for you?
- Oh my, there’s a lot haha. Hmm… if I had to choose… I think it would have to be Howl. It was my first full production with Daloy, and my first taste of the collaborative process I described earlier. It was a deeply personal process for me – shedding the parts of me that always thought I would never be good enough as a dancer and really accepting and owning how I moved. That piece really allowed me to let go of inbuilt tension and rigidness in ways I hadn’t let myself before. It was a deeply transformative piece.
Julienne most memorable Dlaoy DC production -- Howl in 2018 by Ea Torrado, for Neo-Filipina at The Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photos by Erica Jacinto and Marveen Ely Lozano
Julienne in Howl. Photo by Sipat Productions.
What are life lessons that being part of Daloy Dance Company even pre-pandemic had taught you?
- Sooo many lessons haha it would be difficult to enumerate them all. But I guess the major ones are developing awareness and being present. What I try to teach my students – self-awareness, others-awareness, space-awareness, synergy – are things I learned deeply during my time in Daloy. And it has helped me greatly in life outside of dance as well. It helps me stay in tune with God and how he made me and helps me to hold space for the people in my life.
What makes Daloy unique?
- Improvisation, collaboration, and intuitiveness.
Julienne is a loving dog-mama.
What is your typical day like?
- My mornings are usually for stillness and re-centering. I usually wake up at 8 am, do some chores to wake my mind. Then I allot time for stillness before the worries of the day descend upon me. Then I do some strength training or yoga if I can.
My afternoons are for work or study. I teach Contemporary and Ballet classes at IDMM Ballet School (online and onsite). I also do administrative work for the school. If I have spare time, I read books that help me be better at what I do.
My evenings are for family. I do a lot of the housework and try to make sure that everyone’s comfortable. We eat together, watch shows together, and clean up together before settling down for the night. I end my day with quiet reflection and prayer, preparing for the cycle to repeat the next day.
What are your upcoming workshops or projects and how can we contact you, to work with you?
- Oh! Haha no upcoming projects so far, though I am open for collaboration! I can also teach ballet, contemporary (improvisation, creative movement) to students at any age/level.
Just email me at jpdepatillo@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook/messenger.
NAME: Julienne Depatillo
TITLE: Dance artist and educator at IDMM Ballet School
AGE: 26
CITY WHERE YOU LIVE: Quezon City
Short profile: Julienne started dancing ballet at the age of 4 under the tutelage of Ianne Damian and Melanie Motus at IDMM Ballet School. As a student, she achieved Level 5 accreditation in the Ballet Conservatoire syllabus and has also participated in workshops conducted by BC teachers Christine Walsh and Valmai Roberts. To expand her knowledge of dance and movement she attended workshops at the CCP Dance School on a half-scholarship, briefly became a scholar at Douglas Nierras’ Powerdance, and worked with Daloy Dance Company as a guest artist, scholar, and apprentice. She is currently a full-time teacher at IDMM Ballet School where she continues to share her knowledge of ballet, jazz, dance theater, and improvisation which she gained from working with different groups.
Comments