Filipinos Show Off Their Dance Moves

Yangtze Repertory Theatre will present "Variations in a Foreign Land IX: Akin. Amin. Atin.," on Sept. 26 and 27 at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. in Flushing. It is the first production in recent memory to be devoted exclusively to Filipino choreographers.

The three participating choreographers represent a sort of "big brother, middle brother and little brother" of Filipino choreographers working in the New York dance scene today. The name "Akin. Amin. Atin." means "for me, for us, for everyone" in Tagalog.

Leonides D. Arpon on the Brooklyn Bridge .

Although Yangtze Rep under the artistic direction of Joanna Chan, is more prolific in producing plays-it is also firmly committed to its dance program, which makes the organization well-rounded and offers an opportunity to present non language-based works to its polyglot audience.

Yantgtze's second production after its founding was a dance work presented at Pace Downtown Theater, "4 Makes 5," featuring the work of four choreographers, one Chinese and three non-Asian choreographers. This concert set a high standard for succeeding work and was extremely successful. It led to the presentation of another work of similar format, "Among Us," with all Asian choreographers. Realizing it had an affinity for these group works, Yangtze coined the title "Variations in a Foreign Land" in 1997 and began a recurring series of dance productions in that name.

Over the years, the "Variations in a Foreign Land" series has presented a succession of well-received dance concerts featuring both new and established artists from Japan, Korea, China, Philippines, America and Guatemala.

Max Luna III at rehearsal for Yangtze Rep’s “Variations in a Foreign Land V” Leo on the

Max Luna III recently returned to Ballet Philippines as artistic director, bringing full circle a career spanning nearly 35 years and six continents to as an internationally acclaimed performer, teacher and choreographer. As a student, Mr. Luna began his training at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and continued in the United States at such prestigious institutions as the American Ballet Theater School, the School of American Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School. From there he went on to dance with Ballet International de Caracas, Ballet Hispanico, Joyce Trisler Dance Company, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal and finally, six highly acclaimed years with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Along with his stage career, he has also appeared on television in the "Bill Cosby Show," the PBS series "Dance in America," the "Kennedy Center Honors" and on the Italian network, RAI, in a documentary on the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. As a teacher, Mr. Luna has been praised for a keen movement sense complimented by an in-depth knowledge of dance techniques. This is Luna's fourth collaboration with Yangtze Rep since 1999.

Gerald Casel was born in the Philippines and received a BFA from The Juilliard School and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee assisted by an Advanced Opportunity Fellowship.

Casel will be represented by a new duet, "Exit Skeleton," which he created on a commission from Da Da Dance Project and will have its official premiere during these performances. It will be performed by Da Da Dance Project.

Leonides D. Arpon, a Filipino born in Israel, studied at the Bat-Dor Dance School under the direction Rosaline Subel Kassel before joining the Bat-Dor Dance Company under the direction of Jeannette Ordman, where he worked with choreographers such as Luciano Canitto, Randy Duncan, and Igal Perry.

There will also be a solo piece by Arpon, to be created at the Dance Omi International Dance Collective where he will be a resident choreographer this summer.

For more information or to buy tickets visit flushingtownhall.org or call (718) 463-7700.