Dance, an art form that generally involves body locomotion in rhythmic beat induced by music, is as old and varied as many cultures. Considered a form of expression or even non-verbal communication, dance may be classified from functional movement such as folk or regional dances to virtuoso techniques such as ballet and related classical styles.
Through the years the tremendous evolution of dance has found its way to nestle and unswervingly develop far beyond its very basic concept. From merely a creative expression to exhausting competitive performances, dance has significantly been socially acclimatized as an integral part of life.
Like any other form of sports, dancing also enhances one’s physicality in myriad ways foremost of which are: it’s a healthy form of physical workout which tones body muscles and stimulate joint coordination; with locomotive precision and mastery of subsequent steps, it induces mental alertness and instill self-confidence; it develops creativity to exhibit self expression; constantly attending dance events broadens one’s social status; and not to forget, dancing is one fun-loaded form of relaxation.
Adding concrete incentive to the burgeoning number of ballroom dancing enthusiasts is an organized dance event where dance contestants compete for lucrative titles and prizes. Today a variety of dance sports and dance show competitions on television and the internet inevitably attract millions of viewers.
The advent of mushrooming dance sessions and dinner-dance events gave birth to the great demand for dance teachers and dance coaches who could either be self-employed or working for a dance studio. Other dance teachers work part time as dance partners or dance instructors (DIs) especially during weekends when dancing becomes a form of stress-relief.
Filipinos, being innately creative and with diverse talents, won’t be far behind when it comes to dancing professionally. The country has already fielded Russian trained classical dancer Liza Macuja and the petite danseuse has had undoubtedly proven her worth as a prima ballerina.
Here in the east coast, two Filipino dancers are quietly carving their name while inching their way to attain the stardom in the field they not only love but have invested everything they could. With firm belief in their capacity fueled with strong determination, the hopefuls positively cast their cautions at the offing with the credence that they, too, will have their own time to shine.
Dennis Zerna Sy from Dumaguete City and Mae Baguio Lozada of Cebu are drawn by fate together by a common interest—dancing. Although of different orientation their paths inevitably crossed earnestly armed with an aspiration…to make it big in the international dance arena.
Mae, the eldest daughter of Rosendo and Helen Lozada, finished Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Cebu Institute of Technology which first job was as a production control planner. Born gifted with an angelic voice and being a Cebuana at that, his Taurean (born May 19) , initially loved singing that made her a soloist of her school’s choir. Her foray into the dance world was accidental.
Scorpio-born Dennis comes from a big family being the 7th among 9 children of George Espina Sy and Divina Zerna. Although already with a diploma from the Manila Adventist Medical Center as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Dennis still craves to dance. His interest in dancing was kept incessantly burning with tremendous passion.
In a recent interview with the two proponents of ballroom dancing, Mae and Dennis openly poured out their personal sentiments, vivid thoughts, and undying aspirations in regard to their chosen career.
Following are the excerpts and interesting bits and pieces from what transpired during our session in one of Manhattan’s famous watering holes:
Bobby T. Yalong (BTY): At what age did you feel the urge to dance or you have the talent for dancing?
Mae B. Lozada (MBL): Actually, it was rather during my adolescent years since I loved singing first. But during high school, my PE teacher persuaded me to join a dance group with an additional grade as an incentive. Since then, I started to love dancing.
Dennis Zerna Sy (DZS): At 6 years old…I could do breakdancing, tumbling, handstand, and my stage was the busy street. I could easily learn steps even by just observing.
BTY: Was there a dancer in the family that could have influenced you?
MBL: None…my Papa was a singer and so are the rest of the family…everybody was musically inclined.
DZS: There was nobody. All of us are born-singers.
BTY: Do you still remember your first ever dance moves?
MBL: Oh, the Waltz! I performed it during an interschool dance competition.
DZS: It’s the Hassle for me. I learned it from just sneaking in my uncle’s ballroom club and watched people danced.
BTY: At what age did you perform in public?
MBL: When I was 16…as a school representative in an interschool dancesport in Cebu.
DZS: In my late teens…in a local TV station.
BTY: Where have you performed professionally?
MBL: At Pilipinas Got Talent during its Cebu audition in 2010. Sadly, I failed to make it to the finals.
DZS: At EZ Dancing (Charlene Gonzales’s show) and Shall We Dance? (Lucy Torres’s show).
BTY: Who are your dance idols?
MBL: Joana Leunis (Belgian-Latin Ballroom Champion), Vibeka Toft (former Latin-American World Amateur Champion), and Ina Jeliazkova (Danish WDC World Amateur Latin Champion).
DZS: I personally idolize Bryan Watson, 9-time Professional World Latin Dance Champion and 5-time Latin-American Dance Champion.
BTY: What’s the dance that could best describe your personality?
MBL: Rumba…! I just love the way it’s being interpreted and performed. Its pulsating beat and demonstrative locomotion are infectious…you’ll be carried away. It is my very self-expression.
DZS: For me, it would be Cha-Cha. Why? Because I love the hip-swaying movements and the fancy foot works. It’s teasingly playful…just like me. (and punctuated it with a hearty laughter).
BTY: If you’re not a dancer, what would you be occupied with?
MBL: Maybe, I’ll be practicing what I have formally studied…but, definitely, I will be a singer.
DZS: I finished a course that I could rely on when time gets tough but singing is always an option.
BTY: What can be the worst predicament in dancing?
MBL: Since our job depends primarily on our feet and hands, injuring them could be the worst disaster.
DZS: Suffering from physical injury…that could really be the worst part of being a dancer. Another case could be weakening foison…the lack of physical energy due to ailment.
BTY: What was your worst experience as a dance teacher?
MBL: Professional discrimination! (She easily muttered). Some clients looked down on us as mere nobody especially those who are well-off. The throes of trying to build a good clientele are indispensable.
DZS: What could be very disheartening is the way some of our kababayans (countrymen) treat us. They feel that they are more superior and have the right to degradingly treat us.
BTY: Do you think there’s money in being a dance teacher? Can it support a family?
MLB: Yes, of course! Eventually, when I’m already established with my own dance studio…
DZS: As a professional dance teacher, I’ve nowhere to go but climb to a higher level…so, God-willing, I can achieve that status where I could afford to live a more comfortable life.
BTY: What is the biggest accomplishment you have from being a dance teacher?
MBL: Being employed at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Manhattan. Imagine working at the longest and largest established franchise dance studio?
DZS: My being a dance teacher at the Arthur Murray International Dance Studio in NY. It prides of thousands of dance studios worldwide all named after the renowned Hungary-born American dance instructor.
BTY: What is your most magnificent obsession in relation to your career?
MBL: I really dream to be able to compete at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival of the world-famous Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in England. Just merely competing, regardless of winning, is more than enough for me…it surely will be an ultimate excitement.
DZS: Same thing here. Every dancer’s dream is to join the Blackpool Dance Festival. Imagine the competition is held at a 3,000 capacity entertainment venue in Lancashire, England… a really historical landmark! Every dancer will definitely feel great to be a part of such event.
Incidentally, back home, Mae had volunteered in teaching dance to kids in far-flung areas in Cebu and even made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s largest Dance Class in a single session with more than 7,000 students. While Dennis did the rounds of the well-patronized dance spots in Manila like Makati Sports Club, Club Pilipino, and Savannah Moon, he came to America in 2009 to represent the Philippines in a dancesport in Los Angeles with partner Che-Che Tolentino of the Sex Bomb Dancers where they won the plum prize. And here in the US, he gathered all ballroom enthusiasts and founded the Philippine-American Ballroom Dancing, Inc. in 2012.
Currently, the duo is tied down to their respective hectic schedules while simultaneously rehearsing rigidly for their upcoming events: the Philadelphia Dance Fest on April 11, 2014 and the Atlanta, Georgia Cross Country Dance Championship on April 23, 2014.
“We are in the midst of moving mountains and hell to perfect our routine. We can’t just stop…!”
Perfection is considerably far from being instantly attained but persistent training could offer endless possibilities of being able to reach the desired goal. Both Mae and Dennis have well-motivated ambitions with unspeakable drive and ready to take dancing to the next level that social dancing be redefined from mere creative expression to an advanced art form.
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