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PR 212 2023 Prison Dancers

1 December 2023, Ottawa - The Embassy of the Philippines in Canada, led by Ambassador Maria Andrelita Austria, proudly witnessed the excellent staging of Prison Dancer: The Musical, on 30 November 2023 at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa.

Inspired by a 2007 viral Youtube video of  Cebu’s dancing inmates, Prison Dancer is the first all-Filipino musical production in Canadian history. It is written by Filipino-Canadian creators Carmen Leilani De Jesus and Romeo Candido, produced by Ana Serrano, directed by NAC’s English Theatre Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino, and performed by  members of Filipino-Canadian community, namely, Dominique Brillantes, Josh Capulong, Stephen Thakkar, Julio Fuentes, Norm Alconcel, Chariz Faulmino, and Pierre Angelo Bayuga.

Prison Dancer is a mix of pop, house, and R&B with sentimental ballads. Its ultimate message about redemption highlights how a prisoner named Lola brings purpose and joy to a group of inmates by coming together through the power of song and dance.

The remarkable performance was followed by a special reception where distinguished guests from the Canadian government, diplomatic corps, and Filipino-Canadian community honored the cast and members of the Prison Dancer. Ambassador Austria thanked NAC for hosting the event. She also praised the artists for their world-class performance. She also emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy in forging lasting connections between countries, bridge gaps, and overcome differences, and encouraged all to continue to explore the rich tapestry of Filipino culture.

Prison Dancer runs at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from November 23, 2023 until December 2, 2023. 

More information on this link: https://tinyurl.com/NAC-PrisonDancerTheMusical