Mari Dance presents the restaging of its acclaimed production a dance in a day in a dance, a full-length contemporary dance production that brings together five choreographies by choreographer JM Cabling, four of which were developed through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Choreographer’s Series and other dance programs. The production runs from May 16 to 31, 2026 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté.
Structured as a layered narrative on the lives of dancers and choreographers, the piece explores burnout, rejection, creative pressure, intimacy, and survival within the craft. Produced by Mari Dance Company and shaped by musical theater director Mikko Angeles, with Al Garcia reprising his role as the Choreographer, the work unifies five distinct choreographic voices into a single evening that reflects the realities of dance making in the Philippines today.
Four of the two works featured in the production were originally developed through CCP Choreographers Series, underscoring the institution’s continuing role in nurturing contemporary dance practice.
The CCP Choreographers Series aimed to become the prime mover of contemporary dance expressions in Philippine society.
CCP Choreographers Series was composed of three dance projects: (1) WifiBody.ph, a competition for emerging choreographers; (2) Koryolab, a laboratory and showcase of experimental dance pieces by mid-career choreographers; and (3) NeoFilipino, a venue for established choreographers to create and stage major works in collaboration with artists.
Conceptualized by founders Denisa Reyes and Myra Beltran, the CCP Choreographers’ Series has been a prime mover of contemporary dance expressions in the Philippines. Launched in 2015, in consultation with former CCP President Nestor Jardin, the series continued the legacy of NeoFilipino’s boundary-breaking contemporary work since 1987 and the independent dance initiatives of the Wifi Body Festival since 2006.
Bent, which was Cabling’s earliest piece in the program, premiered at the 2014 Wifi Body Festival’s New Choreographers’ Competition, directed by Myra Beltran and supported by the CCP; Nothing Special and Lihim ni Lea were developed and premiered under the CCP Choreographers’ Series (2017 and 2019), led by Denisa Reyes and Beltran; and I Wanna Say Something was first presented in 2021 under the CCP Professional Dance Support Program during the pandemic.
a dance in a day in a dance becomes a living archive where dance works developed through different CCP platforms are recontextualized into a single performance, revealing how CCP institutional programs have shaped the evolution of Filipino contemporary choreography. Artists outside traditional company structures were given mentorship, support, and opportunities necessary for their sustained growth, flourishing under a system that supports choreography from its earliest experimental stages to full-length theatrical performances. With this, contemporary Filipino choreography emerges not as a collection of isolated works, but as an evolving lineage of practice.
The production also features alternating performances by former Ballet Philippines dancer Georgette Sanchez-Vargas and former Ballet Philippines dancer and Daloy Dance Company’s Artistic Director and Founder Ea Torrado as the mother; and former Ballet Philippines and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines dancer Janine Arisola-Cabrera in the lead role of Lea. Returning cast members Michael Que and Sarah Samaniego join a broader ensemble composed of Mari Dance scholarship students from Butuan, Iriga, Sagay, Sorsogon, and Surigao, reflecting the company’s commitment to regional inclusion and dance education.
Beyond performance, the production also highlights Mari Dance’s education-driven mission, with many of its dancers coming from scholarship programs under Guang Ming College and company training initiatives. This model integrates creation, pedagogy, and community-building, expanding access to professional dance training across the Philippines.
As Mari Dance mounts its first major multi-weekend run, a dance in a day in a dance stands as both a performance and a testament to how the right platforms transform the lifespan of choreography, allowing them to evolve.
The show runs from May 16 to 31, 2026 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté, co-presented by Areté. Tickets are available via: maridance.com.
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