Daloy's longtime friend in contemporary dance, Clarissa Mijares who works at Ateneo de Manila University and Asian Public Intellectuals (API Fellowships Program) and currently is taking her PHD in dance at Simon Fraser University has sent over a series of questions and interview for Daloy founder Ea Torrado to answer about her current life and artistic practice in La Union, in September 2023. Below are the questions and answers:
What performing arts practice do you identify with?
-Contemporary performance, dance, and performance rituals. I also work with videos and film.
Can you describe your practice between 2015 and 2020, five years prior to the COVID pandemic?
-I was mostly in Manila and abroad, teaching dance, presenting work, directing, and choreographing both dance for commercial and corporate events and works with Daloy Dance Company that are dance theatre and contemporary performances. I had the luck of being able to travel to see festivals abroad and attend artistic residencies, and also tour Daloy Dance Company and some of our repertoire. I was also performing in galleries and museums for visual art exhibits.
What prompted your move from Metro Manila to the region?
-La Union is a place I've been visiting every month in 2019 to rest from the noise and hectic Manila life. My boyfriend, who is now my life partner, also lives in the region. So when COVID hit, I knew that I'm spending the lockdown with him and by the sea.
How would you describe your practice now?
-Multidimensional. Multifaceted. It has now been more than four years that I've been living in La Union. The place, the community, and the serene life by the sea have cultivated in me a sense of calm and patience. They have also provided the space to explore different facets of myself and how these facets wish to express themselves beyond the realm of dance performance. My focus has shifted towards offering energy healing sessions and conducting tarot card readings for individuals, whether in person or via Zoom.
Throughout this year, I've been making trips to Manila every two months, spanning several days, to accommodate various projects that involve teaching or facilitating movement workshops and providing tarot readings for events. Additionally, Daloy Dance Co. has received invitations to perform short pieces in Manila.
As we approach the fourth quarter of 2023, I find myself contemplating a return to Daloy Movement as a primary pursuit. It encompasses a movement meditation practice, a workshop, and a methodology or framework for engaging with the body and other bodies. It enables emotional catharsis, fostering improved mental and emotional well-being. Essentially, it's a dance that guides us back to stillness and spiritual connection.
Back in January 2020, before the onset of COVID, I had trained 20 students to become Daloy Movement Facilitators. I'm now considering revisiting and updating the modules and manuals, with a view to training a new group of Daloy Movement Teachers and developing a structured approach to teaching the practice across different levels.
When asked about Daloy Movement this year, especially in light of the growing appreciation for improvisation-based workshops in Manila, I typically respond by saying, "Daloy Movement isn't just a method (yet); it's a philosophy and a way of thinking about movement and non-movement." Furthermore, I'd like to emphasize that my work takes on various forms nowadays, including tarot readings, energy healing, dance facilitation, directing, and more. I am living out the essence of Daloy in my daily life, embracing what comes my way and allowing myself to remain flexible and enjoy the process. I don't confine myself to the belief that there is only one path to achieve a fulfilling artistic life or attain success.
Tell me about the experience of setting up your practice in your current location?
-It's incredibly fulfilling. I've come to realize the profound significance of having a place to call home. La Union has bestowed upon me a wonderfully nurturing home life. Together with my partner, we've created a cozy, comfortable, and tranquil sanctuary. Here, I can leisurely stroll along the beach whenever I desire or opt for a nearby cafe if I wish to work in a different setting. The convenience of conducting meetings with dancers and Daloy Dance Company's administrative team via Zoom has made life considerably more straightforward. It's notably easier than my previous routine, without the hassles of city traffic, commutes, or pollution.
I believe it wouldn't have been possible if I were younger. I was 34 at the time and deeply in love. The mere thought of my partner or myself succumbing to COVID and us not being together in that scenario was unbearable. Hence, I followed that instinct and relocated to La Union to be together during lockdown. Financial considerations also played a crucial role. I was well aware that moving to La Union would enable me to halve my living expenses since the cost of living in the province is significantly lower than in Manila.
Challenges: Currently, I work from home, which means I can observe what people in Manila are up to and occasionally experience feelings of envy and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Moreover, there are no theaters in this region. While there are collegiate-level dance groups focused on contemporary dance, they tend to lean toward competitive commercial contemporary dance. As I've attempted to organize various events here, I've encountered the challenge of gathering 20 people in a single space for contemporary dance, unless it involves DJ music and drinks in more of a party setting. Another hurdle I face is that, at the age of 38, I find myself less inclined to pursue endeavors that feel particularly demanding or require extensive effort. I believe I may have lost some of the passion and enthusiasm I once had for dance during my twenties. This applies to both my dedication to dance and my commitment to community organizing and event planning.
Breakthroughs: I now find myself more grounded, centered, and deeply connected both to my own essence and to the people I hold dear. La Union has enabled me to experience my humanity and that of others on a daily basis, a sensation I rarely encountered in Manila. In the city, I perpetually felt the need to strive for something more, always entangled in busyness, perpetually engaged in preparations for the next rehearsal, performance, meeting, or social gathering. While it was exhilarating, La Union has granted me countless moments of pure existence, where I can simply be. I've come to recognize the equal importance of such moments in both life and one's artistic practice.
La Union has kindled within me a desire to explore new avenues in the future, such as delving into filmmaking, embracing more writing endeavors, including the creation of zines or a book. Additionally, I remain open to the possibility of directing a dance theater production or taking on choreography if the opportunity arises.
What did you learn about yourself through these experiences?
-I discovered that there exist various modes of producing creative work, each potentially leading to different manifestations of the same artistic endeavor. My background primarily revolves around ballet dance companies in the Philippines, where we were constantly churning out productions, typically averaging at least four each year. The routine was structured: from daily classes to rigorous rehearsals, followed by performances, a brief respite, and then the cycle would begin anew.
When I ventured into freelancing in my twenties and established my own group, I couldn't help but externalize the perceived pressure and intensity I had grown accustomed to over the years. It felt like an ingrained expectation. In my mind, we had to generate work rapidly and successfully, striving to forge the right connections and secure a presence in all the noteworthy shows. We aimed to be pioneers in various aspects of the contemporary dance scene, seeking to address the deficiencies and frustrations I had observed, such as sparsely attended performances, underpaid dancers, a dance company structure that felt overly hierarchical and lacked room for vocal expression, collaboration, and experimentation, as well as an audience development model centered solely on occupying theater seats rather than immersing the audience in the visceral and somatic experience of dance.
When I made the transition to La Union and recognized just how fatigued I had become. I had been operating on an abundance of passion but had failed to learn the art of pacing myself. Moreover, I lacked financial literacy, both on a personal level and within the company, which led to an inability to maintain stability. The most heart-wrenching aspect of the pandemic was coming to terms with the fact that I couldn't financially support the dancers or myself when the lockdown took hold. We had always taken pride in the values that defined our group and the positive impact they had on our immediate community. However, the pandemic underscored the paramount importance of financial stability.
In my journey in La Union, I have come to appreciate the profound significance of stability in various forms, encompassing physical well-being, financial security, and nurturing supportive and mutually beneficial relationships. I have also recently realized that these elements are indispensable for artists to endure the long haul and maintain the stamina required for a sustained and enduring career in the arts.
What learnings can you share about the city and the region? What kind of relationship have you observed between the two?
-In La Union, life unfolds at a leisurely pace. People here embrace a laid-back approach, taking their time in all aspects of life. Extended lunches and dinners are common, as conversations flow freely and endlessly. Commitments are made, projects are agreed upon, but it's not unusual for three months to pass without any action being taken. Depending on the context, this relaxed attitude can be seen as both a virtue and a vice. There's an underlying belief that if something is meant to happen, it will, and if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be. The prevalent pastime in La Union is surfing, and many people schedule their lives around the availability of waves. When the surf's up, most folks opt for playtime, leading to frequent cancellations of meetings and social gatherings. The sense of community is strong, and nearly everyone knows everyone else. However, like many provinces, La Union grapples with its share of challenges, including issues like homophobia, macho culture, conservatism, unwavering loyalty to the Marcos regime, and small-town gossip.
Here, people relish watching sunsets on the beach, and time seems to stretch and become more abundant.
In stark contrast, Manila epitomizes the hustle and bustle of big cities worldwide. You could live in a condo there for years without ever getting to know your neighbors. Manila embodies the attributes and habits commonly associated with major urban centers: a fast-paced lifestyle, reliance on credit cards, a constant need to attend various social events, and the pressure to always be in the spotlight, seeking validation. The city's notorious traffic congestion adds to the daily challenges, as does the high cost of vegetables encased in plastic at grocery stores. People in Manila rush from one commitment to the next, often talking hurriedly as they go about their busy lives. Regardless of your artistic pursuits, renting space for storage, studios, or workshops is a necessity, and the prices are steep, escalating annually due to inflation. Living in Manila can feel like an ongoing battle against mounting pressures.
Manila offers a wealth of cultural offerings, including numerous shows, gallery exhibitions, theater productions, dance studios, yoga centers, and more. In contrast, La Union is experiencing a rapid wave of gentrification, which brings both positive and negative consequences. Over time, this gentrification poses environmental challenges, particularly in terms of waste management, which struggles to keep pace with the burgeoning number of resorts, bars, party venues, and restaurants being established in the area.
The gentrification of La Union is largely driven by its desire to emulate Manila, its modern, trendy, and Western-influenced counterpart.
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