Cover On April 23, the dance festival opens with a highly anticipated opening gala featuring the UK company Studio Wayne McGregor and the Philippine premiere of ‘Autobiography (v105)’, a groundbreaking work by Sir Wayne McGregor CBE (Photo: Ravi Deepres)
On April 23, the dance festival opens with a highly anticipated opening gala featuring the UK company Studio Wayne McGregor and the Philippine premiere of ‘Autobiography (v105)’, a groundbreaking work by Sir Wayne McGregor CBE (Photo: Ravi Deepres)
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In its second year, the International Dance Day Fest at Circuit Makati brings together over 1,200 dancers—from folkloric troupes to urban crews and inclusive paradance ensembles. More than a spectacle, it’s a statement: that dance belongs to everyone
There’s a hush before a performance begins. It feels heavy with anticipation, like a liminal space between inhale and exhale. Inside the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati, that hush is about to be broken on April 23 to 27 by over 1,200 dancers from across the country and around the globe. The second International Dance Day Fest is here, and with it comes not only pirouettes and popping, but something heavier: presence.
For Christopher Mohnani, managing director of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, presence isn’t measured only in ticket sales or foot traffic. “International Dance Day is more than just a celebration of movement,” he says. “It’s a powerful reminder of how dance connects us all.”
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Above Ballet Manila (Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Land)
Ballet Manila (Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Land)
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Indeed, the kind of dance on show at Circuit Makati isn’t confined to one tradition or tempo. Classical ballet finds itself beside street dance and urban beats. Indigenous folk movements are set against the lines of contemporary choreography. And in one of the most affecting segments, paradance artists—performers in wheelchairs—redefine grace with every lift and turn. It’s a festival of contrasts but never competition. What unites each performance is the belief that movement is for everyone.
Mohnani speaks from a place not just of management but of mission. As Circuit Makati continues evolving from a lifestyle hub to a cultural sanctuary, events like this are becoming its heartbeat. More than hosting shows, it’s about making space—for artistry, inclusion, and dialogue.
Above Folk dance: Ramon Obusan (Photo: Jaypee Maristaza)
Folk dance: Ramon Obusan (Photo: Jaypee Maristaza)
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Line up of performances
Across five evenings, the International Dance Day Festival 2025 unfolds with a multitude of performances, beginning with an Opening Gala on April 23 featuring the acclaimed company Studio Wayne McGregor from London—presented with support from Ayala Corporation, the British Embassy, and the British Council in Manila.
The celebration continues on April 24 with a folk and traditional dance gala, staged in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where icons such as Bayanihan and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group share the stage with vibrant university troupes, including UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, PNU Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, The Kalilayan Folkloric Dance Troupe, RTU Kultura Rizalia Dance Troupe, Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, CEU Folk Dance Troupe, UE Silanganan, and Kaloob Philippine Music and Dance Ministry.
Above Studio Wayne McGregor’s ‘Autobiography’ (Photo: Ravi Deepres)
Above Contemporary dance: Mari Dance (Photo: Jaypee Maristaza)
Studio Wayne McGregor’s ‘Autobiography’ (Photo: Ravi Deepres)
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On April 25, the spotlight shifts to rhythm and edge with the street dance gala, featuring heavy-hitting crews like Femme MNL, Upeepz, Vpeepz, A-Team, Team Package Makers, Electrogroovers, Power Impact Dancers, and UNRVLD.
The ballet gala on April 26 brings the grace of classical tradition with performances from Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theater, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Steps Dance Studio, Association of Ballet Academies in the Philippines, and American Ballet Theatre—made possible by Sofia Zobel-Elizalde—alongside Hong Kong Ballet, thanks to Elaine Forsgate Marden’s support.
The festival culminates on April 27 with a contemporary dance gala, a visceral showcase of innovation and expression featuring Dance Forum, UP Dance Company, Daloy Dance, Galaw, Guang Ming, Hiraya, Nude Floor, Airdance, Mari Dance, and inclusive groups like Para Dance.
Presented by Ayala Land, Make It Makati, Circuit Makati, and the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, this year’s edition makes a resounding case for dance as both heritage and frontier.
Tickets for the International Dance Day Fest 2025 are available at Ticketworld. For more information, please follow CPATOfficial on Facebook and Instagram.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
