Iloilo MB Dance Academy dazzles at Malaysian dance festival

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The accomplished and widely-renowned Iloilo MB Dance Academy turned heads once again on the international stage after getting invited during the 5th Kuching International Dance Festival held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Iloilo MB Dance Academy was the only representative from Western Visayas and one of two from the Philippines who received an invitation aside from the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet from Quezon City.

It was a prestigious avenue for the Ilonggo dancers to showcase dance styles from the Philippines and the MB way of expressing themselves through movement.

Headed by chief trainer and Artistic Director Matthew Balbastro, Leanne Reigh Lanceta, Kate Mitchelle Jaramillo, Mary Chelleen Faith Baylon, Joemel Jan Magallanes, and Jayson Gian Cala-or flew to Malaysia and performed their version of the dance ‘Una-una Kaya-kaya’.

For Balbastro and the team, the dance symbolizes the attitude of the Filipinos. For them, the song also means to keep moving forward no matter how life is difficult.

The Iloilo MB Dance Academy mixed the song’s tribal vibe with Latin American dances and came up with an unorthodox choreography that put a lasting impression on the thousands in attendance in Malaysia.

Aside from performing, the Iloilo MB Dance Academy was also invited to host a workshop session and taught kids from different countries.

Balbastro and the rest of the dancers shared their expertise in the basics of competitive ballroom dancing and the depths about their dance style.

The event was spearheaded by The Dance Academy Kuching’s teachers and was organized by Ms. Mary Chan and their local staff.

This is Iloilo MB Dance Academy’s second invitation from Malaysia and debuted in the international dance festival last 2019.

“This opportunity has allowed our group to share the uniqueness of Latin dance and also experience the different cultures of every country. This dance and cultural exchange has opened wide gates for the future and we hope to see further achievements hailing the Province and the Philippines,” said head trainer Balbastro.