INTERPRETATIVE DANCE PROJECT STRIKES A CHORD

In no particular order: Aireen, Michelle, Mae, Aprilyn, Julius

My niece Aireen lived with my parents at our ancestral home all her life. Her father is the youngest in the family and traditionally, youngest sons inherit the ancestral home. She is my parents princess. My father loved her so much and I knew why. She is an exact replica of his mother; silky skin, tall and beautiful. Her only brother acted like a strict body guard. Older brother have all the right reasons to be overly protective, she is his only sister.

I remembered taking a vacation during our hometown fiesta and there was a little commotion in the house. The big bro put his little sister and a household help in the jeep and took them home after being seen wandering in the crowd.

In my last journey home in 2011, because my father was dying. I was watching her crying unceasingly by my father's bedside. I think I sat down beside her and explained to her that her Grandfather's life was slowly fading away. I won't forget the tremendous shaking of her head in defiance of truth; that any moment, my father will be gone. I think it was the saddest moment of her young life. She was also one of the reasons I kept them under my wings on the years that followed.

When she graduated high school, the pictures sent to me was that of a very intelligent girl with tons of medals hanging on her neck. She briefly studied Nursing in another town being her dream but that dream was interrupted when I can no longer afford her schooling after losing my job. Instead, she took up Education. I lost touched of my family but I gave her father sole discretion to my inherited lands to support her studies.

Facebook indeed is a good channel to follow through someone. I was following her profile and saw a caption describing her as "Choreographer." I thought, really? I reconnect. She knows I am like a retarded spirit who pops up and go and disappear. But reading not too long ago that she can Choreograph. So, I want to put her to a test, message her on Facebook asking her to do an interpretative dance for a Fienne Mendoza's debut single- Holding the Hand of a Dreamer. She agreed and asked her cousins to join her. They are taking up the same course majoring in M.A.P.E.H (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health).

They are studying at the Blessed Trinity College run by Augustinian Sisters. The same school, now a college, where I graduated high school. The school is located in the hometown of the late Philippine Pres. Carlos P. Garcia in Talibon, Bohol. This is quite a far place for a song to be choreographed.

I gave her all the time in the world to finish the project. Last week she message me that they were ready to shoot for the dance. She first sent me a sample of the dance which I've shown to Fienne Mendoza. They asked their fellow classmate to do the video which is seen her below for you to watch the interpretative dance they have created and a video that is fully edited by Julius. There was one instruction I made- do the shoot at sunrise.

I love it considering the originality of the steps and the project plus they all look good at it. Both of them contributed to the creativity of the dance steps which is interpretative of the song which I have written for one of the youngest sentimental songstress in Ontario- Fienne Mendoza.

I'm proud of my niece to come up with this 'exercise' brilliantly. This is my way of seeing her present herself to me as a brilliant teacher following the footsteps of her Grandfather and family ancestors. Watching her and her cousins on this video...I'm wondering if I should betray a pledge I've made never to make another homecoming. She will be graduating in two years time. I have ample time for my heart to let go and make up my mind. Or I won't if I will let my principles stand.

But at this point...I am proud of her and her cousins. This project will not be about perfection but creativity from young minds who will one day mold the minds of the younger generations as brilliant Educators.