2011 Cinemalaya entry taken inside FEU Manila

Cinemalaya entry tilted “Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” (The Dance of Two Left Feet) by Alvin Yapan and Alemberg Ang had its entire production taken inside Far Eastern University Manila with guest participation of the FEU Dance Company.  The film is starred by Jean Garcia, Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino.  “It's a love triangle with a twist. Sobrang galing ng pagkakagawa nito!” said young actor Rocco Nacino in a recent press conference.

Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa explores the intersection and divergence between feminist and gay concerns in the third world context, as it features the poetry of Merlinda Bobis, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Joi Barrios, Rebecca Anonuevo, Benilda Santos and Ophelia Dimalanta.  When Marlon, a college student, stalks Karen, his literature professor, he finds out that she moonlights as a choreographer and dance teacher in a dance studio.  Frustrated over his performance in her literature class, he plans to impress her instead by learning to poeticize his body movements and enroll in her dance class.  He hires his classmate to teach him the basics of dancing.  As Dennis, his tutor, teaches him how his body should move, Marlon begins to understand the intersections between the art of poetry and dance. 

 

This opens up his world to new insights about Karen’s life as a single woman who chose to live the life of an artist in a third world setting.  Marlon begins to understand how the poems being discussed by Karen in class are testaments to her choice to stand by her art.  Karen eventually finds out, through Dennis, that Marlon only enrolled in her class to be near her.  She confronts Marlon about this and wishes that his interest for dance would survive his infatuation for her.  Marlon feels betrayed over Dennis telling Karen.  But it is also this sense of betrayal that tells him that he has already become close to Dennis, whom he now considers a friend.  Up until then, Marlon and Dennis have become inseparable as they both tackled the complexities of poetry and dance.  Sensing the coldness between the two, Karen set them up to help her train a group of dancers for a cotillion dance. 

 

Eventually, Karen trains both Marlon and Dennis to star in her dance adaptation of the epic Humadapnon, when she bags a grant.  Marlon will play the lead role of Humadapnon, who becomes trapped in a cave full of women.  Dennis’ character now has to rescue Marlon from the women, as he plays the role of Sunmasakay, the male incarnation of the goddess Nagmalitong Yawa.  On the eve of their performance, in a drunken conversation, Marlon confronts Karen how he could not understand her poetry.  Karen, in response, assures Marlon that he does understand her poetry.  His mind is just unwilling to, unlike his body which already understands.  Karen invites Marlon to dance with her, but in the middle of her dance, she passes him onto Dennis.  Their drunken dance culminates with Marlon and Dennis taking on the roles of Humadapnon and Sunmasakay on stage.

Cinemalaya opens its seventh year on July 15th and its getting bigger and better each year with two theaters at Greenbelt 3 will be dedicated to Cinemalaya on July 16-24, 2011.  The films to be shown at Greenbelt will be those in competition in the New Breed Full Length Feature category, the Short Feature Category, the Directors Showcase, and NETPAC Philippine Premieres.  The films of the  new Focus Asia section of Cinemalaya will also be shown at Greenbelt.  At the CCP, the Festival will be held in seven venues. The opening ceremony is slated on July 15, 6:00 pm followed by the festival opening film at the CCP Main Theater. The Cinemalaya Awards Night will be held on July 24, 7:00 pm at the same venue.

Competing in the New Breed category are: Amok (Amok) by Lawrence Fajardo;  Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez; Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (The Dance of Two Left Feet) by Alemberg Ang and Alvin Yapan; Bahay Bata (Baby Factory) by Eduardo W. Roy, Jr. and Jerome Zamora; Cuchera by Joseph Israel M. Laban; I-libings: Your Loss, Our Luck (E-funerals) by Rommel Andreo Sales; Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me (Star Crossed Love) by Noel Ferrer, Jerry Gracio and Erick Salud; Nino by Loy Arcenas; andTeoriya (Father’s Way) by Alistaire Christian E. Chan.

The nine finalists of the New Breed Full Length Feature category each received a P500,000 seed grant from the Cinemalaya Foundation as investment for the production. The Best Full Length Feature Film will receive a prize of P200,000 and the Balanghai Trophy. The New Breed Full Length feature category is open to Filipino filmmakers who have not yet directed more than three full feature films.

Watch the Trailers for the entry “Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” below:

At the modern FEU Dance Studio, Administration Building

 

With a shot along FEU's Gate 2 facing Quezon Boulevard

 

FEU Quadrangle and Halls

Scheduled screening for this film at the CCP will be as follows:

ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA by Alvin Yapan
17 July/Sun, 12:45PM at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)
18 July/Mon, 6:15PM at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
19 July/Tue, 12:45PM at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute
20 July/Wed, 6:15PM at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute
21 July/Thu, 10:00AM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
22 July/Fri, 6:15PM at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)
23 July/Sat, 3:30PM at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

Ticket price is P150 per screening. Student price is P75.00 per screening.

Day Pass is P500 valid for one day,

while Festival Pass is P1500 valid for the entire duration of the festival.

Tickets are available at CCP. For more information, please call CCP Box Office

at 832-3704 or 832-1125 local 1406 and 1409.