Knapsack began its legacy at the year 1993 via a debut performance at the "Star Treat on 3", then at Star Showcase, Sabado Na Game Na and Kapamilya Mas Winner ka. Knapsack has become the regular sight on local saturday morning television aired over ABS-CBN. The group has also grace some crowd-drawing shows within mall circuits and has proudly worked with Manila Productions and Popular Filipino artists/celebrities. Knapsack has not only impressed the National stage but also the International arena, performing on various countries outside the Philippines representing Cebu City and the Philippines.
Founded by Mr. Rogelio R. Alayre, who established knapsack with business partner Ms. Cinbeth Enriquez Orellano, both performers and choreographers for more than three decades. Ms. Monica Sylvia Orellano, one of the managing partners, is also a renowned dancer/choreographer and a talent of ABS-CBN Cebu for many years, with success stories of being a renowned professional and dully certified dancer/choreographer considered as one of the best in Cebu.
THE STUDIO
The Knapsack Dance Studio is a well-equipped dance studio with state of the art facility, catering to numerous forms of dance class and choreography. A dance studio, where kids, teens, and adults experiences dance in a fun-filled and relaxing atmosphere. The dance studio is located the new wing of Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park.
VISION
A globally competitive, highly skilled, efficient dance studio providing quality learnings and dance techniques to its clients both individuals and corporate organizations in Cebu City and the country.
MISSION
To provide affordable, professional and highly effective dance trainings and services to a wide range of clients that cuts across different divides, by continuously highlighting Cebuano talent and ability.
WHAT WE TEACH
The dance studio will cater various genres that has never been exposed in the Cebuano community with dance virtuosos to expertly hone and train protégés on their specific genre. The studio shall not be limited dances, but shall also cater fitness classes and cultural training that is necessary for a holistic rigid discipline to become a certified world class dance master.
OUR CLASSES AND INSTRUCTORS
YOGA
Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu Philosophical Traditions. There is a broad variety of Yoga Schools, practices, and goals of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Instructor: John Jeoffrey Dungog Dabatos
He initiated Tantra/Rajadhiraja Yoga in 2003 heading to Kolkata and West Bengal, India. He is also certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America in 2014. Trained also for the Trauma Release Exercise in 2012 and also Certified Group Fitness Instructor by the National Academy of Sports and Medicine/Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
SALSA/ BACHATA
Salsa is a popular form of social dance originating in Cuba and before from United States of America U.S.A regions of New York and Puerto Rico and Cuban folk dances. The movements of Salsa are a combination of the Afro-Cuban dances Son, cha-cha-cha, Mambo, Rumba, bomba and the Danzón.
Instructors: Jilly Enriquez and John Enriquez
Jilly founded Salsa, Bachatta, Kizomba Social dance in Cebu. While John, aka DJ El Camino, is Cebu’s first Afro-Latin DJ and is the head for Cuban Salsa Philippines and the head cantante for the Rueda de Casino performance team. The couple has trained few of the world’s most seasoned mentors in various parts of the world namely Cuba, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Cape Verde, South Africa, Latin America, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand for the love and passion for Salsa and Bachatta.
ZUMBA
Zumba is an exercise fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Albert "Beto" Perez during the 1990s. Zumba is a trademark owned by Zumba Firness, LLC. The Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte has become the international ambassador to Zumba Fitness.
Instructor: Baby Jane Enad
She is an Aerobics and Fitness Association of American Certified instructor, Licensed Zumba fitness Instructor, LesMills Ceertified Instructor teaching bodypump, body balance, Grit body combat, and she is also a pole dance fitness certified.
DANCEHALL
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a sparser version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.
Instructor: Camille Martir of Sugbo Brawta
Currently connected with Sugbo Brawta who continuously advocates to introduce Dance Hall to the Cebuano community. In 2017, she organized the first Dancehall workshop in cebu and has made great impressions about the dance.
WAACKING/ PUNK
Waack or Punk is a form of dance created in the LGBT clubs of Los Angeles, during the 1970s disco era. This dance style was named punking because "punk" was a derogatory term for gay men in the 70s/ Naming the style punking was a way of turning this negative term into something positive. A "whack" was a specific movement within the punking style. Although the heterosexual dance community took part in punking, they did not want to asociate themselves with the negative, violent, and sexual connotations of name and therefore called the dance genre "waackin".
Instructor: Christian Tondag
Was mentored by Eldin Lao, the father of the Imperial House of Waacking. He believes that waacking may serve as an expression of letting go and being true to self that is why it is about time that Cebu explores this genre.
KPOP
KPOP is a genre of popular originating in South Korea. While modern form of K-pop can be traced back to the early 90's. The term is often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form South Korean pop that is influenced by styles and genres around the world.
Instructor: Mark Belonguel
Represented Cebu, Philippines to various international cultural exchange to South Korea and Japan. He was also the dance master for Pasundayag Summer Dance Workshop, Cebu City Sports Commission Summer Workshop and has been performing all over the Philippines in various concerts and exhibitions.
URBAN DANCE
Urban Dance is a style of dance, community, and lifestyle revolving around choreographed pieces and performances by a dancer or groups of dancers.
Choreography is influenced by several different dance styles, but is ultimately based on the choreographer’s own interpretation of the music.
A big part of the modern Urban Dance culture stemmed from collegiate dance teams and competitions.
Instructor: Ken Mijares
He attended various trainings in the United States of America to master Hiphop, Afrobeats, Street Jazz, Urban Choreography, and Commercial Dance. Garnered various awards as he competed for the Hiphop International Philippines with a gold medal for the locking battle with a back to back win for 2014 and 2015.
BELLY DANCING
Belly dancing history crosses many cultural boundaries, getting its start in the Middle East and Africa, and moving on to evolve in western cultures as both a form of cultural dance and exotic entertainment. In the 21st century, the genre has gained considerable popularity all around the world.
Instructor: March Lasala Biscocho
She is a belly dancing instructor in Cebu City Sports Center and choreohrapher for Angel Fire who went all the way to the finals of the Pilipinas Got Talent of ABS-CBN. The group was also garnered the World Class Filipinos for this year.
ARNIS
Arnis also known as Kali or Eskrima, is the national sport and martial art of the Philippines. The three are roughly interchangeable umbrella terms foe the traditional martial arts of the Philippines (Filipino Martial Arts", or FMA), which emphasized weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives, bladed weapons, and various improvised weapons. It is also known as Estoque (Spanish for rapier), Estocada (Spanish for thrust or stab) and Garrote (Spanish for club).
Instructor: Master Gerald Canete
Organized 3 major international World Championships in Arnis/Eskrima, as well as led and managed numerous Philippine Team delegation in international tournaments and competitions. Tournament Manager for 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG), 2018 Nationa PEKAF championships, 2018 Nationals Batang PInoy & 2019 Batang Pinoy Qualifying Legs & Nationals.
Tournament Director/Manager - Arnis Ekrima & Vice-President, Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF)
FESTIVAL DANCES
The Sinulog Festival, one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. It was attended, not only by Filipinos, but people coming from different parts of the globe also went to witness the celebration. The magnificence of the festival made Filipinos, as well as our fellow Asians, refer to it as the “Mother of all Festivals”. From the colorful and well-made costumes of the dancers, to the beautiful dances and to the music brought by the drums, trumpets, and the native gongs, the Sinulog Festival never ceases to amaze its audience.
For 39 years, the Sinulog Festival is a traditional celebration in Cebu City held every third Sunday of January to honor the Santo Niño (Child Jesus). Basically, the festival is done by a dance ritual, in which it tells the story of the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity. The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”, wherein it all started in 1980 with a simple dance that represents the “sulog” (or current) of a river in Cebu.
With the celebration’s evolution, the Sinulog Festival has become a month long tradition in Cebu. The most-awaited feature, nevertheless, is the Sinulog Grand Parade which was held on the 15th day of January. “One Beat, One Dance, One Vision. Cebu – City of Culture” was the theme adopted for the Sinulog Festival
As the festival becomes more and more famous each year, tourists would never want to miss the opportunity to watch it and became more and more commercialized. In this program we want to let the tourist atleast experience an hour workshop of the festival using the famous headdress so that they will bring to the dance step and photo souvenir that they experience the famous Sinulog Festival in the Philippines.
Instructors:Rhonikko Kirong & Jayjie Sarnillo, KanSugbo Dance Fusion
The Kansugbo Dance Fusion headed by Rhonikko has been representing Cebu and the Philippines for various cultural exhibits and performances. Rhonikko has also aced various cultural and festival competitions in different provinces. Both has also performed outside the county namely: South Korea, Japan, and Canada exuding the colourful and vibrant dances of the festivals.
HIP HOP
Hip hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip hop music that have evolved as part of hip hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking which was created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States.
Instructor: Monica Sylvia E. Orellano
She is the choreographer of the Knapsack Dancers, a graphic artist, She has been a delegate from the Philippines to various countries Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Canada & USA and others to perform cultural exchange initiatives. A SZHD member – Champions for World Supremacy Battlegrounds Visayas and 4th placer Hip Hop International Philippines.
POP JAZZ/LOW IMPACT DANCE
High- and low-impact dancing are terms used to describe aerobic workouts. Dance aerobics became popular in the 1970s when instructors began to combine dance moves and athletic moves and set them to music. Dance workouts became more and more popular in the early years of the 21st century, with fitness centers adding classes incorporating jazz, hip-hop and Latin beats, plus tap, ballet and other dance moves. The trend has moved toward low-impact workouts, since high-impact workouts are associated with a greater incidence of injuries and potential injuries.
We are using the low impact dance with a combination of FIGURE 8 PROGRAM and using the modern or pop jazz in a low intensity dance. This low intensity dance using the music of the legends. The icons like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bee Gees, Abba, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Madonna, & Cindy Lupper.
Instructors: Cinbeth Orellano & Rogelio Alayre of the Knapsack Dancers
Rogelio “Ojing” Alayre a founder of the Knapsack Dancers for 35 years and an international cultural exchange performer representing the Philippines, that have traveled in various countries, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Japan and Canada.
Cinbeth E. Orellano the choreographer & manager of the Knapsack Dancers, a former choreographer and floor director of ABS-CBN Cebu of 26 years. She has been a delegate from the Philippines to various countries Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Canada & USA and others to perform cultural exchange initiatives.
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