National Artists in Dance

Study Notes

Francisca Reyes Aquino:
- Pioneered folk dance research in the 1920s, traveling to remote barrios.
- Served as a supervisor for physical education, adapting folk dance into curriculum to promote cultural heritage.
- Received the Republic Award of Merit in 1954 for her significant contributions to Filipino culture.
- Published several books on Philippine dance, including: Philippine National Dances (1946), Gymnastics for Girls (1947), Fundamental Dance Steps and Music (1948), Foreign Folk Dances (1949), Dances for all Occasions (1950), Playground Demonstration (1951), and volumes I-VI of Philippine Folk Dances.

Ramon Obusan:
- Dancer, choreographer, stage designer, and artistic director, widely respected for promoting Philippine ethnic dances with respect and authenticity.
- Researcher, archivist, and documentary filmmaker, deepening the understanding of Filipino cultural life.
- Founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG) to facilitate cultural and diplomatic exchanges between societies.
- Choreographer of full-length productions including Vamos a Belen! Series (1998-2000), and Noon Po sa Amin.
- Created collections of his masterpieces like Obra Maestra and Unpublished Dances of the Philippines (Series I-IV).
- Other productions include "Water, Fire and Life," "Saludo sa Sentenyal," "Glimpses of ASEAN," and "Saplot."

Alice Reyes:
- Dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director, instrumental in popularizing modern dance in the Philippines.
- Creatively combined Philippine ethnic dance elements with modern dance and ballet to create unique routines.
- Widely promoted contemporary dance through concerts, tours, educational outreach programs, and demonstrations in schools.
- Known for choreographing works including Amada, At a Maranaw Gathering, Itim-Asu, Tales of the Manuvu, Rama Hari, and Bayanihan Remembered.

Leonor Orosa Goquingco:
- "Trailblazer", "Mother of Philippine Theater Dance", and "Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics".
- Pioneering Filipino choreographer in balletically-inspired folkloric and Asian styles, creating original and groundbreaking works.
- Developed a highly important dance epic called Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend and Lore.
- Created works *TREND: Return to Native," In a Javanese Garden, and In a Concentration Camp.

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula:
- Choreographer, dance educator, and researcher specializing in Philippine folk and ethnic dances.
- A practitioner of Philippine ethnic dance for about four decades.
- Created highly successful, and influential choreographed suites of mountain dances, Spanish-influenced regional dances, and Muslim pageants.
- Notable for her dance works such as Singkil, Vinta, Tagabili, Pagdiwata, Salidsid, Idaw, Banga and Aires de Verbena.