By Michael Aaron Gomez
The Ateneo de Davao University Culture and Arts Cluster (AdDU – CAC) is honored to have participated in a slew of local and national cultural and arts activities, including workshops and festivals, sponsored by multiple national and international organizations, in the first semester of school year 2019-2020. The cluster’s constituent student organizations sent their representatives to join these events.
Performing in the opening ceremony of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the Asia Pacific (AJCU) Service-Learning Program last 4 August 2019 were members of the Culture and Arts Cluster’s Performing Arts strand: the Ateneo Chorale, Ateneo Repertory Company, and the Ateneo Sidlak Performing Arts Collective. The strands enlivened the welcome dinner with their performances highlighting choral excellence, dance prowess, and musical flair.
The Cluster also collaborated with the Mindanao Youth Development Center (MYDC) and the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), to hold the Cinemalaya Campus Workshop at the Finster Auditorium, AdDU Jacinto campus, last 25 June 2019. The workshop featured lectures by contemporary Filipino film directors on building prospective stories and on how independent films mirror varied Filipino realities; as well as screenings of their works. Director Kip Oebanda also conducted a filmmaking masterclass and screened his film “Liway.”
Vice President for Dance of the Ateneo Repertory Company (ARC) Mr. Aaron James Morales participated in the 3rdChoreographers’ Movement and Analysis Program (CMAP) of the Choreographers’ Festival Internationale 2019, held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City, last 25 – 27 June 2019. Joining Mr. Morales were 10 choreographers, 13 ballet schools, and 3 dance companies from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The participants underwent intensive dance workshops led by 4 international dance masters from Russia, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Finally, last 20 – 24 May 2019, Ms. Eliezza Justin Magbalot, the Vice President of the Ateneo Sidlak Performing Arts Collective (ASPAC), joined the 39th National Folk Dance Workshop held at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila. The workshop aimed to preserve and promote Philippine folk dancing.
The Cluster looks forward to joining and hosting more cultural and arts activities as the school year goes on.
