Pinoy Pride Awardee for Dance Agnes Locsin’s Dynamic Body of Work

“We don’t have to go on excursions up north, or down south to find the ethnic, to find the Filipino, to find the artist in us because it is inside of us.” 

Choreographer, director, teacher, and National Artist for Dance Agnes Dakudao Locsin is the

mind behind the choreography of landmark shows such as Igorot (1987); Babaylan, which placed second in the Tokyo International Choreography Competition in 1993; Taong Talangka; and Salome, for which dancer Camille Ordinario had been awarded second palace in the 1994 Concours International de la Danse in Paris, France.

Locsin’s distinct body of work shows a life dedicated to the art of dance. She called her dance

language “neo-ethnic,” wherein she uses Filipino beliefs, rituals, and indigenous traditions in her choreography, as well as concepts and directions. She lent her talents to numerous groups and theatrical productions including Ballet Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, and PETA.

Among her numerous awards and achievements include Pilak Award para sa Serbisyong

Pangkultura, Sining at Kumunidad, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2004; Philstage’s Gawad Buhay awards for outstanding production and original choreography for La Revolucion Filipina in 2008 and for Encantada in 2011; the Gawad CCP para Sining from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2013; Ateneo de Manila University’s Gawad Tanglaw Lahi in 2014; Daigler Award for Mindanao Culture and the Arts from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2017; Gador Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2020; and the Gawad Buhay Lifetime Achievement Award from Philstage in 2018. Her book Neo-ethnic Choreography: A Creative Process won the 2013 Alfonzo T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Arts at the 32nd National Book Awards. Locsin is based in her hometown Davao City, serving as the Artistic Director for the school and company her mother founded, the Locsin Dance Workshop.

Choreographer, director, teacher, and National Artist for Dance Agnes Dakudao Locsin is the

mind behind the choreography of landmark shows such as Igorot (1987); Babaylan, which placed second in the Tokyo International Choreography Competition in 1993; Taong Talangka; and Salome, for which dancer Camille Ordinario had been awarded second palace in the 1994 Concours International de la Danse in Paris, France.

Locsin’s distinct body of work shows a life dedicated to the art of dance. She called her dance

language “neo-ethnic,” wherein she uses Filipino beliefs, rituals, and indigenous traditions in her choreography, as well as concepts and directions. She lent her talents to numerous groups and theatrical productions including Ballet Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, and PETA.

Among her numerous awards and achievements include Pilak Award para sa Serbisyong

Pangkultura, Sining at Kumunidad, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2004; Philstage’s Gawad Buhay awards for outstanding production and original choreography for La Revolucion Filipina in 2008 and for Encantada in 2011; the Gawad CCP para Sining from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2013; Ateneo de Manila University’s Gawad Tanglaw Lahi in 2014; Daigler Award for Mindanao Culture and the Arts from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2017; Gador Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2020; and the Gawad Buhay Lifetime Achievement Award from Philstage in 2018. Her book Neo-ethnic Choreography: A Creative Process won the 2013 Alfonzo T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Arts at the 32nd National Book Awards. Locsin is based in her hometown Davao City, serving as the Artistic Director for the school and company her mother founded, the Locsin Dance Workshop.

Choreographer, director, teacher, and National Artist for Dance Agnes Dakudao Locsin is the

mind behind the choreography of landmark shows such as Igorot (1987); Babaylan, which placed second in the Tokyo International Choreography Competition in 1993; Taong Talangka; and Salome, for which dancer Camille Ordinario had been awarded second palace in the 1994 Concours International de la Danse in Paris, France.

Locsin’s distinct body of work shows a life dedicated to the art of dance. She called her dance

language “neo-ethnic,” wherein she uses Filipino beliefs, rituals, and indigenous traditions in her choreography, as well as concepts and directions. She lent her talents to numerous groups and theatrical productions including Ballet Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, and PETA.

Among her numerous awards and achievements include Pilak Award para sa Serbisyong

Pangkultura, Sining at Kumunidad, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2004; Philstage’s Gawad Buhay awards for outstanding production and original choreography for La Revolucion Filipina in 2008 and for Encantada in 2011; the Gawad CCP para Sining from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2013; Ateneo de Manila University’s Gawad Tanglaw Lahi in 2014; Daigler Award for Mindanao Culture and the Arts from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2017; Gador Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2020; and the Gawad Buhay Lifetime Achievement Award from Philstage in 2018. Her book Neo-ethnic Choreography: A Creative Process won the 2013 Alfonzo T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Arts at the 32nd National Book Awards. Locsin is based in her hometown Davao City, serving as the Artistic Director for the school and company her mother founded, the Locsin Dance Workshop.