THE KALIAWAN PERFORMING ARTS GROUP (KPAG)
* Junior Dance Company of Leyte Dance Theater *
One of Leyte Dance Theater’s major programs was the establishment of a junior dance company that served as a training ground for LDT’s members who are interested in teaching dance and choreography. At the same time, it also provided opportunities for children ages 9 to 14 to avail of free training in different forms of dances including ballet, jazz, contemporary and folk.
Established three (3) years ago with Leyte Park Resort partly subsidizing the program, auditions were given to different public elementary schools in Tacloban City. Forty talented children were the first recipients of the program. From this batch, the LDT was able to field scholars to the National Arts Center in Makiling for a four-year high school dance program and to public schools with courses in Special Program for the Arts.
The members of the KPAG continue with their training in ballet, jazz, folk dances and creative dances from different dance teachers and choreographers until they qualify for membership to the LDT (age 15 as entry requirement).
While with KPAG they have performed locally using the repertoire built for them by the LDT’s budding choreographers. Its resident dance teachers are VILMA DE PAZ NATIVIDAD AND MARK RYAN TORRENTE, with JERRY MORES and SHERWIN MAGALLANES sharing their choreographic ideas to the repertoire of KPAG. Its artistic director is JESS DE PAZ.
