ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA (2011) is the fourth indie film of Alvin Ang and produced by Alemberg Ang. While not enjoying the surprise box-office success of ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS or ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK, it had its share of supporters (mostly dancers, literati and the gay community). Given the potent casting of Ms Jean Garcia, supported by newcomers Rocco Nacino and Paulo Avelino, one wonders if the box-office results would have differed with, say, Ms Lorna Tolentino (or Nora Aunor!), Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay. An intriguing premise (male students falls for female dance teacher, hires another male student to tutor him in dancing, to impress said professor) is marred by monotonous voice-over readings of poetry (Tita Vangie Labalan, you should have been with the voice-over dubbing for this film!), one or two laughable dance scenes (dancing is supposed to elicit awe and marvel), and Garcia's downplayed performance. In other movies, Garcia has wowed us in the past with her dramatic mastery, but underperforming in a film (as she does in the nearly-concluded 'danceserye' TIME OF MY LIFE) when you have untested actors as costars is sheer folly. In fact, they are the only mainstream stars in this film -- the rest are obviously extras, dancers, university students and perhaps some poets. Had the three been any more laidback and sedate, it should have been titled, ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA AT NG DALAWANG TAMEMENG TORPENG LALAKE! No wonder Garcia breaks Avelino's heart, and Avelino shuns Rocco's advances (if there were any at all!). Yapan's heart, though, is in the right place, and I will always support movies with Dance as a theme. Arvin Viola's cinematography adequately photographs the cast and dance scenes with a loving hand. Eli Jacinto (whose sons Lucas and Quincy were my classmate in ballet) is a legend in dance and has at least made terrific dancers out of the three laidback lead stars. To Alvin and Alemberg, congrats and more movies please!
