Filipina contemporary dancers and choreographers Ms. Eisa Jocson and Ms. Cecile Müller respectively performed in Berne and Saint Gallen, Switzerland to promote Filipino artistic talent through dance.

In her performance entitled “Host” during the “Tanz in Bern” festival on 01-02 November 2016 at the Dampfzentrale in Berne, Ms. Jocson drew inspiration from Filipina female and transgender hostesses in the clubs of Tokyo, Japan to demonstrate how the female body adapts to the various stereotypes of femininity in popular culture.

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On 15-16 October, Filipina-Swiss Ms. Müller and the dance group Troupe Élevée premiered their new piece “Glasig” at the Theater111 in Saint Gallen. The group’s performance of Glasig, created by Swiss-German choreographer Nicole Meier, connected to a full house audience through various dance movements reflecting subtle, fragile and complex interpersonal relationships. Aside from their dancing skills, the group also demonstrated acting talent as the piece explored a range of emotions in a montage of scenes.

Ms. Jocson is well-received in the European contemporary dance scene. With a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines and a background in classical ballet, she studied the dancing body of Filipinas in the service/entertainment industry to create original modern pieces with a social commentary on issues of gender equality.

Ms. Müller, known for her expansive vocabulary of dance moves and contagious enthusiasm in Troupe Élevée, believes there is a great potential for artistic contemporary dance for second generation Filipinos in Switzerland and Europe. Troupe Élevée was formed when its members first met during their classes at the Saint Gallen school for ballet and dance.