AWARD-WINNING CHOREOGRAPHER DISCUSSES DANCE DURING MARTIAL LAW

choreographer, director and mentor Denisa Reyes will reveal the artistic process behind her iconic 1985 work “Te Deum,” the social commentary that served as the prayer of Filipinos during the dark days of martial law, on the online talk show HistophTV.

In the episode titled “Martial Law,” “Te Deum” and Reyes link the role of dance to a historical event. Premiered in Manila a year before the collapse of martial law, the piece was named after the traditional Latin Christian hymn “Te Deum laudamus,” which means “We Praise Thee, Oh God.”

The discussion is free and open to the public. It will go live Sept. 24, 5 p.m. on the official Facebook and YouTube channels of Benilde Arts and

Culture Cluster.

Reyes launched the Neo Filipino Dance Series in 1987 under her term as artistic director of Ballet Philippines. She is a twotime Philstage Gawad Buhay awardee for Outstanding Choreography for a Musical and Lifetime Achievement, a recipient of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, City of Manila Outstanding Artist Award for Dance, Award for Culture and Arts in Bulacan and Amazing Alumni Award by Miriam College.

Reyes continues to share her expertise as consultant and dance faculty member of Benilde School of Design and Arts and director and mentor for the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Choreographers Series.

Organized by Dance Program students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, HistophTV was launched by Benilde Dance chair and History of Philippine Dance (Histoph) professor and fellow industry expert, Nina Anonas, ACBE, a soloist and principal credits at Ballet Philippines, Manila Metropolis Ballet and Junge Ballett Compagnie, as well as featured performances with Billie Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt.

Interested viewers may register at t.ly/Xgdy. Visitfacebook.com/benildearts.