Article by: Carlos Po
2016 marks the first year of a new brand of dance and drama at International School Manila. In previous years, the two were their own separate disciplines, but in 2016, everything changed, and Cultural Convention would never be the same again. Where there was once two, there is now one. Dance and drama have fused into a single event.
Titled Internecine War In The Kingdom of Ra, the performance smoothly incorporates elements of both dance and drama into a dramatic play featuring fan-to-fan combat, breathtaking stunts, jokes about coming first, and lots and lots of dancing.
The “soldiers training” scene, as it was called by the program’s director Ms. Monsod, opened with Higuchi barking orders at a group of soldiers in martial arts gear. They then performed an interpretive dance straight out of Mulan, featuring totally sweet karate moves and insane flips. After they had caught the audience’s attention with their acrobatics, the scene shifted abruptly as a soldier at the front stumbled, and was harshly called out by the general for his incompetence. Next, two soldiers were called to the front for a special demonstration of their skills. Deemed “the greatest soldiers in the land” by the general, they proceeded to unsheathe deadly fans and trade quips while flying through the air. One of them said that the other one always came first, and everyone roared with laughter, including the audience.
The production stars, among others, Michael “Sparky” Van Hoven (11) , reputed actor, as the ruler of Egypt. Van Hoven is best known for his role as Coop in the 2016 IASAS student film The Room. Starring alongside heavy hitter Carlos Po and veteran directors Henry Brooke and Lukas Fiechter, the film puts the actors to their absolute breaking points, asking the age-old question, “How far will you go to protect your own life from those you love?” It can be viewed here at no cost.
Overall, the production looks very promising in terms of presentation, lighting, choreography, and performances. The acting dancers (or dancing actors) were all superb in the short preview viewed by this reporter. Hopefully this will be the first successful dance/drama fusion in the history of IASAS, paving the way for years of dramatic glory.
