DANCE
Dance as a skillfully choreographed
Dancing is both an art form and a form
of recreation. Dance as art may tell a
story, set a mood, or express an
emotion.
Dance is a powerful impulse, but the art
of dance is that impulse channeled by
skillful performers into something that
becomes intensely expressive and that
may delight spectators who feel no wish
to dance themselves.
These two concepts of the art of dance:
1. Dance as a powerful impulse
2.
art practiced largely by a professional
few
Bio:
Ramon Arevalo Obusan was born on
June 16, 1938 and died on December
21, 2006. Obusan is credited for his work
in promoting Philippine traditional
dance and cultural work.
-an international acclaimed dancer
-dance anthropologist
-choreographer
-artistic director
-founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric
Group (ROFG) in 1971
-He was declared as a National Artist of
the Philippines in May 2006
-He's a Bicolano. A son to Dr. Praxedes
Obusan of Camarines Norte and Josefina
from Albay
-He studied in University of the
Philippines where he graduated with BS
in Fisheries

-He then went to teach courses in
Fisheries in Aklan Polytechnic Institute
-It was in Aklan where his love for
Philippine folk culture was born
-Obusan later went back to UP where,
inspired by his teacher, Dr. Espiridion
Arsenio Manuel, he decided to study
anthroplogy
-He then joined the Bayanihan Dance
Company where he began his career in
the 1960's, first as an instrumentalist,
then eventually as a dancer
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group
He founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric
Group in 1971. Through the Ramon
Obusan Folkloric Grop (ROFG), he had
effected cultural and diplomatic
exchanges using the multifarious aspects
and dimensions of the art of dance.
Awards/Achievements:
1982- He was designated as Artistic
Director of the first Asian Dance
Company
- On the same year, he directed a
documentary for the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP) entitled “Sayaw”,
which won the grand prix award in the
“International Video Dance Competition”
in France.
1992- he was given the Patnubay ng
Kalinangan award by the City of Manila
for his contributions to the preservation
of traditional Filipino dances.
1993- he was conferred the CCP Gawad
Para sa sining Para Sa Sayaw for his
researches in Philippine Folk Dances and
other art forms.
1998- Obusan was commissioned by the
Department of Tourism in designing
floats themed with historical significance
during the parade for the centennial
celebration of the country's
independence.
Works:
Among Obusan's notable works are the
following:
* Vamos a Belen! Series (1998-2004)
Philippine Dances Tradition
* Noon Po sa Amin, tableaux of
Philippine History in song, drama and
dance
* Obra Maestra, a collection of Ramon
Obusan's dance masterpieces
* Unpublished Dances of the Philippines,
Series I-IV
* Water, Fire and Life, Philippine Dances
and Music--A Celebration of Life
* Saludo sa Sentenyal
* Glimpses of ASEAN, Dances and Music
of the ASEAN-Member Countries
* MJ (Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group):
Philippines Costumes in Dance

Death:

Obusan died on December 21, 2006 due

to cardio-pulmonary arrest at the
Makati Medical Center. Up to the time
of his death, the annual Christmas
program Vamos A Blen at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines was at his
oversight. Obusan was also preparing for
the cultural presentation to be made
during the state dinner for the 2007
ASEAN Summit to be hosted by then
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.