Contemporary Dance Network Manila

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Contemporary Dance Network Manila An organization of Contemporary Dance artists, performers and dance companies based in Metro Manila, Philippines Dance Company. Beltran, Artistic Director

Contemporary Dance Network Manila (Philippines) is a group of contemporary dance artists based in Metro Manila, who have come together in the spirit of "artists helping other artists." In their work together, they have made prominent, an independent contemporary dance practice in the Philippines which now has growing importance in the Asian region. The network's two main projects, the Wifi Body Festival (since 2006) and the Contemporary Dance Map (since 2005) series, have not only produced the most innovative contemporary dance in the Philippines, it has also nurtured and showcased a great number of choreographers. Indeed, these initiatives provided the main spark to Philippine contemporary dance. The network's arc starts from the work of Myra Beltran's Dance Forum with its performances in an alternative space (starting in 1997). In 2005, a choreographers' network had formed under World Dance Alliance-Philippines. Later, it was incorporated as Contemporary Dance Network Philippines. In 2011, the name was changed to Contemporary Dance Network Manila to reflect a more urban aesthetic, practice and thrust. In this vortex of energy, Philippine contemporary dance best thrives and moves forward. The network's core members are: Airdance, Chameleon Dance Theatre, Dance Forum M.B., and U.P. Angel Lawenko-Baguilat, Executive Director
Myra C.

WiFi Body PH returns for its 12th edition on Aug. 22 at the Ignacio B. Gimenez Theater in UP Diliman, continuing its run...
03/08/2026

WiFi Body PH returns for its 12th edition on Aug. 22 at the Ignacio B. Gimenez Theater in UP Diliman, continuing its run as the country’s longest-running choreography competition dedicated to contemporary dance.

Carrying the theme “States of Connection,” this year’s edition invites choreographers to explore forms of connection shaped by necessity—spanning labor, migration, online economies, and intimacy across distance.

The competition will feature 12 finalists presenting original works in two sets: Set A at 2 p.m. and Set B at 5 p.m., followed by a Winners’ Showcase at 7 p.m. The showcase will include new works by past winners Buboy Raquitico and Kirby Dunzell.

Now back under independent production through Contemporary Dance Network Manila (CDNM), the 12th edition marks a shift after six years under the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The platform is currently led by curator and co-director Nicole Primero, a finalist in its second edition, alongside co-director Al Garcia, winner of its fifth edition.

Primero said the competition continues to serve as a platform for emerging choreographic voices, offering audiences new perspectives grounded in present-day realities.

Garcia, meanwhile, underscored the significance of returning to independence, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen the contemporary dance community and build a more sustainable ecosystem for artists.

The finalists are Emmanuel Bajala (Roxas, Capiz), KJ Canata (Surigao), Gaby Chavez (Manila), Nikki Gorre (Manila), Tory Cortez (Philippine Ballet Theater), Arianne Dumol (FEU Dance Company), Niño Horario (Timbuok Dance Troupe), Gab Montaño (Guang Ming Dance Project), Daniel Sacil (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Ibarra Toledo (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Jasper Villasis (UP Repertory Company), and Ramona Yusay (Manila).

WiFi Body PH is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and The Japan Foundation, Manila, with additional backing from the AET Koreograpiya Award, UP Department of Arts and Letters, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Dance Program.

Tickets are priced at P400 per set, with bundle options available. Discounts apply for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

(✍️: Marinel Cruz)

CALL FOR ENTRIES | Wifibody 2026 New Choreographers Competition returns - a platform dedicated to discovering and suppor...
20/02/2026

CALL FOR ENTRIES | Wifibody 2026

New Choreographers Competition returns - a platform dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging Filipino choreographers.
For 2026, we invite choreographers to engage with conditions of connection.

How do bodies relate to one another, to systems, to time, and to attention? Connection today is rarely optional, with conditions that are both personal and systemic, local and global - and movement is where they unfold.

We encourage choreographers to take a position.
What is the body willing to stay with?

CRITERIA FOR JOINING
Filipino citizen
Aged 18-35 at the time of the competition
Has not yet created a major full-length choreographic work
Demonstrates a serious interest in pursuing choreography and contributing to contemporary dance practice in the Philippines

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
3-5 minute video of an original solo or duet movement study
Simple documentation only – movement comes first; camera work, editing, or effects should not replace or obscure the movement
100-word concept note (describing the choreographic inquiry)
150-word bio or less

Submit proposals to: [email protected]
Submit by April 10, 2026
Full guidelines available through the link: https://bit.ly/WifiBody2026 or via the QR code.
Follow this page for updates and announcements.

Take a stance. Begin the work.

Meet the artists of Asia Butoh Gathering!From across Asia, these Butoh practitioners come together in Manila to share pe...
24/01/2026

Meet the artists of Asia Butoh Gathering!
From across Asia, these Butoh practitioners come together in Manila to share performances, conversations, and practices rarely seen on one stage that don’t happen often, and won’t repeat soon.. This is more than a festival! It’s a meeting of bodies and stories shaped by land and time.
Don’t wait. Join us this February and witness the gathering.
Explore the festival and reserve your spots through our official website:
asiabutohgathering.com
Or register at:
tinyurl.com/ABGFeb6-7
tiyurl.com/ABGFeb8
Follow us on our social media platforms for more updates!
Kapwa Movement Project
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36E West Avenue
Quezon City
1104

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