CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- An expert dance trainer has called on his fellow choreographers and trainers to teach performers the proper way to interpret cultural dances.

“It is our responsibility and obligation to teach the right dances,” said Ruben Niño S. Balane, dance art coordinator and Gintong Amihan Dance Troupe trainer of the University of Science and Technology (USTP) Arts and Culture Office.

In a recent episode of Talakayan sa PIA for National Arts Month, Balane explained the importance of research and correct interpretation, especially of the cultural dances in Mindanao, saying that it would greatly offend the community if the delivery of the dance was incorrect.

“It’s sad to say gyud kay kapila naman gud ko nakakita og isa ka show, and pag-abot didto, dili mao ang pagkatudlo, dili mao ang music, dili mao ang step, even ang description sa dance, sad kaayo paminawon nga we are teaching the wrong things sa atong new generation,” he said.

[It's sad to say, how many times I’ve seen a show, and when I got there, it wasn't the way it was taught; the music was incorrect, even the steps were wrong, and even the description of the dance was incorrect. It's very sad to hear that we are teaching the wrong things to our new generation.]

It is important to preserve, but to be able to do that, choreographers and trainers must do their jobs to do more research, study, and continue to educate themselves, especially through training, seminars, and forums. “We should attend and learn; always learn,” he said.

Dance is a disciplined art.

The dancer and the dance must be connected, wherein the movement is the result of an emotion the dancer gives. For example, if the intention was to show pain, the audience must be able to feel pain from the dance, Balane said.

One of the criteria for a good show is being able to influence the audience after the performance.

“Kanang naay mabilin sa ila, if there is something nga ma-realize after the show, I think that is one of the criteria nga makaingon ka nga nindot ang nabuhat nga performance,” he said.

[When there is something left in them, if there is something they realize after the show, I think that is one of the criteria where I can say the performance was done well.]

More importantly, not just in appreciation, but when the community realizes the need to preserve this culture and heritage after watching a cultural presentation, especially in this generation, then it has had a big impact.

“We are so lucky that our government really gives importance to art by declaring National Arts Month every February,” said Balane.

Art is an imitation of life because the creative energies and creative skills of the artists are put into an art form or art discipline.

“We express our emotions and feelings through movement by creating a dance piece. Art for me is creating something out of nothing,” the trainer shared.

It is important to appreciate our own culture first because this is our identity and how we are known—where we started, said Balane. That is why we need to preserve and continue it.

Talakayan sa PIA, initiated by the Philippine Information Agency-10, airs once a month through the agency's Facebook page. (JMOR/PIA-10)