The 3rd Bellydance Festival organized by the Peak Performance Dance and Fitness Center held in Glorietta Activity Center last May 31, 2009 marked yet another milestone for bellydance enthusiasts in the country. On this day, hundreds of bellydance students, professionals, and guests gathered for one whole day to celebrate this art in its various forms. The show presented Turkish, Egyptian, cabaret, African, tribal, and Bollywood bellydance numbers. Bellydance students and professional from ages five to seventy danced before a fully-packed, appreciative crowd.
Ms. Jill Ngo, the show’s organizer and herself a premier bellydancer for six years now, wanted more and more people to understand and appreciate bellydance as an art form and as a profession. The 4-month preparation entailed a lot of hard work which proved to be worth it in the end, as indicated by the warm reception shown by sponsors, the media, and the audience. This year’s show had Nesvita Pro-Digestion, Reductil by Abbott, Golds Gym as major sponsors.
For the growing bellydance community , the annual Bellyfest is always a time to bond. Nourished by a non-competitive, supportive spirit, the show is a fruit of friendships and mutual support between and among teachers and students, who are all but willing to welcome newcomers into their circle. As always in Bellyfest, there was no dance competition as the intention was to celebrate as a community. In between dance numbers were workshops and games that entailed active audience participation.
The Bellyfest also helped demonstrate that women can learn to love and appreciate themselves no matter what their body shape or age is. It demonstrated how every woman can be beautiful because belly dance helps one gain inner confidence and strength. Of course, there are also the benefits to health, bellydance being a low-impact form of exercise suited to women of all ages.
Bellyfest2009 featured Nilda Boquiren, Lovely Rodriguez, Claire Sakumura, Arcel Benson, Crystal Calinawan and Jill Ngo as lead dancers, and Eloisa Capoy, Rosalia Kong, Kristine Mae Aquino, KB Baylon, Donna Mascarinas, and Zane Ronquillo as back-up dancers.
For inquiries, you may contact Jill Ngo at 0917-624-7534
- by Marj Ibanez
Bellyfest 2009 is coming!
BELLYFEST 2009 IS COMING!
by Zane Ronquillo
Any belly dancer worth her Kohl eyeliner intimately knows the magic that happens every time women put on hip scarves and start dancing. Is it the happy tinkling of coins and beads when the hips gyrate? Or the colorful and flowing costumes that, whether gaily or gaudily accented, unapologetically emphasize feminine curves? On a deeper level, could it be the recognition and expression of one’s inner goddess? Or maybe it is just the strong bond of sisterhood that comes from sharing an ancient art form with roots in nearly every continent?
SNAP AND FLOW. Jill Ngo-Crisologo (right) and the dancers of Peak Performance grace the dance floor with their smooth moves.
Photo by Andy Samaniego
For whatever reason, belly dance has been experiencing a resurgence these past years, with more and more women finding their feminine magic through shimmies, head slides, snake arms and a whole lot more.
There are plenty of rewards in belly dancing. Apart from the emotional and spiritual satisfaction that comes from learning to love and work with your body, it is also an effective exercise. Belly dance can burn up to 400 calories an hour and is excellent at helping tone problem areas like the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and arms—all while having fun!
With its impact on health and well-being, belly dancing has also gained a foothold in the Philippines, with the best gyms now incorporating such classes.
“I am happy that bellydance brings women together, and I believe that in order to enjoy being a belly dancer, we need to showcase our talents, and the Bellyfest is a good avenue for this ” says belly dance teacher Jill Ngo-Crisologo, directress of Peak Performance.
Peak Performance is the dance studio that annually organizes BellyFest, a whole-day dance concert featuring various belly dance styles performed by the country’s top belly dance teachers, talents and enthusiasts.
The studio is already accepting students who would like to perform as recitalists of BellyFest 2009. It will be held at the Glorietta Activity Center on May 31, Sunday.
Anyone can be a part of BellyFest 2009 and experience the rewards of belly dancing. If the past two festivals are any indication, belly dance can be enjoyed by women of all ages, shapes and sizes. Even kids and senior citizens have shared the joy and excitement of the BellyFest stage.
Interested participants and sponsors may contact Peak at 413-3466 or 0917-6247534, or e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Tickets available at the Peak Performance Studio, 2/F McGwen Building, 12 Don A. Roces Avenue, Q.C. or call for reservations.
