Denisa Reyes
Denisa Reyes holds an impressive line of works ranging from classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance, musical theater, video and dance, directing/producing dance documentaries and full-length feature films.
A former member of Ballet Philippines, Denisa finished a BFA degree in Dance with Honors at the State University of New York and joined several modern dance companies while in New York City. During her 9-year-stint as Artistic Director of Ballet Philippines she introduced the Neo-Filipino Dance Series, her most significant contribution to Philippine contemporary dance. It served as a platform for Filipino choreographers to make dance the central force, the impetus, the muscle in collaborating with the other art forms: music, visual arts, literature, theatre and film.
As dance teacher, choreographer and director Denisa has collaborated with Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine Ballet Theatre, Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA), Actors’ Actor Inc., Repertory Philippines and the CCP Virgin Labfest. She received grants from the Philippine National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) to conduct regional choreography workshops in the Philippines.
Denisa has earned commissioned works with the City Contemporary Dance Company in Hong Kong, the Substation in Singapore, the Sutra Dance Theater in Kuala Lumpur, Artist Network Asia in Shanghai, the Asian Council for People’s Culture, the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) “New Direction in Asian Contemporary Dance” and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Flagship Project “Realizing Rama” that toured extensively in Europe and Asia.
A recipient of the City of Manila Outstanding Artist Award for Dance, the Philstage Award for Outstanding Choreography for a Musical and Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining, Denisa was a member of the Advisory Panel for the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), a consultant and dance faculty with the De La Salle University – College of St. Benilde.
In 2015 Denisa together with Myra Beltran initiated the CCP Choreographers Series, a dance program towards the development of the next generation of Filipino choreographers. Denisa is currently advisor and mentor for the program and member of the Advisory Board of the DLSU St. Benilde’s Dance Program.