Sofia Zobel Elizalde speaks on the future of Philippine dance

Art patroness and philanthropist Sofia Zobel Elizalde is set to discuss the emerging trends in the Philippine dance community in the virtual talk show HistophTV. She will likewise share her insights on the sustainable future of this industry.

The online platform will probe into the life and career of Elizalde, the founder and director of Steps Dance Studio. She will look into the significance of dance education and how it can make a difference in the lives of performers. She will further discuss philanthropic endeavors, training in ballet schools, and other educational institutions of the Philippine dance scene.

Elizalde, the managing director of Steps Dance Project, will narrate her journey as she established the Steps Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization which creates opportunities for young, promising Filipino students from various backgrounds to assist them to pursue dance as a profession.

Directed and produced by students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Bachelor of Performing Arts Major in Dance (BPAD) Program, the talk aims to enlighten viewers that dance is more than just an art form.

The event is a collaboration among BPAD learners Alyssi Lynnett Fandiño and Maria Adrianna Lim as production managers; Kiel Alessandro Camarillo, Mary Julia Gillego, and Lorinne Jennica Peralta in marketing; Diana Margaret Borbon and Ana Gabrielle Nipales as editors; and Rosemarie Brigette Naul, Red Skye Tonog, Sara Mari, and Margarita Astrud Malapad as creatives. Part of the initiative were Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries Management students Margaux Yebes in marketing, and Wryanne Claryz Bungay and Froilan Marcus Isodoro as creatives.

The interview was spearheaded by 2024 History of Philippine Dance students, Justine Erich Ausan, Lorenze Hope Balbido, Arman Lorenzo Burias, Yi-Cheng Cheng, Niña Moira De Castro, Angela Carmeli Doloroso, Kyla Enano, Giancarlo Estavillo, Charlize Cameron Garzon, Daryl Christian Greñas, Melchizedek Lacao, Jaybee Larioza, Krisalyn Llemit, Jan Linz Pondoc, Chelsea Zyrille Samson, Carlos Miguel Sunga, Lorayne Rommel Toledo and James Gabriel Velasquez.

HistophTV was organized under the supervision of Benilde School of Arts, Culture, and Performance Dance Program chairperson and History of Philippine Dance professor Maria Lucina De Santos. The hour-long web event will be streamed via the Benidlearts YouTube channel on 15 February, 5 p.m. It is free and open to the general public. Interested participants may register through the link tinyurl.com/HISTOPHTVSofiaZobelElizalde.