ASCENDANCE 12: PRECIPICE

"When one leaves the place they call home, the physical body may depart, but the heart and mind remains. Precipice is a composition reflecting the sensation of being outside one's own body, caught in-between memories: the longing feeling of familiarity in a foreign place."

song
To Find a Home by Cinematic Orchestra

performed by
Duds Ignacio
Nielsen David

This is the dance story of two company members who are no longer in Manila, but forever will be Polecats.

This is the final chapter in our year-long project, ASCENDANCE. From October 2021 to September 2022, our dance company released one video every month, each showcasing a different facet of our members. Watch the rest of the videos below!

ASCENDANCE 11: Doll

“See this smile? I’m all put together and everything’s right.”

Except nothing is!

Underneath the innocent facade lies the dark corners of Kyla’s world, where hoops are tipped and hoops are stacked, where things are crazier than what they seem.

song
Dolls by Bella Poarch

performed by
Kyla Ortigas

ASCENDANCE 10: The T.O.P.

When one is fuelled by the incessant whisper of discontent, she runs a self-imposed race to the top. There is a relentless inclination for achievement, and a propensity to outbest. While satisfyingly productive, if unchecked, it is also a proven antecedent for… burnout.

In this work by Hannah and Nikki, they embrace their tireless tendencies while at the same time  remind themselves of the pleasure and necessity of a pause.

song
Top the World by Kimbra

performed by
Nikki Dizon
Hannah Villasis

produced by
Polecats Manila

ASCENDANCE 09: Bloom

We’ve changed you know? As we are supposed to.

There is a story that only mothers understand. A journey that is both of becoming, and coming undone.

We leave parts of us behind in the process. Goals, dreams, and even movement. But also,  we discover a greater sense of strength. An ability to love, with an immensity that is beyond what we could ever imagine.

This is a story of finding yourself. Of how we’ve learned, that the act of finding is not something that happens once. But an experience marked by several life changing events.

This is a story of embracing both the struggle, and the wonderful. Of how each fragment has made us who we are.

This is a story of dance. The understanding that  movement has never really left. But instead, has grown outside of us, in the most beautiful way possible. So we continue to move.

“Until the spring day comes again. Until the flowers bloom again.”

for Andi, Aiden, Sabine, and Astro

performed by
Marga Alaguia
Leeanne Arnaldo Garing
Mae Serranillo

video by
Christina Dy
Kayleen Ortiz

produced by
Polecats Manila

ASCENDANCE 08: CUT

When you have been stuck too long in a place that feels comfortable, tied to things that feel safe but hold you back from being your true self— are you willing to take that first step to set yourself free?

Ahlex asks this question in this dance drama piece, shot in one continuous take.

performed by
Ahlyxon Juanne Grecia Leyva

produced by
Polecats Manila

song
Courage to Change by Sia

ASCENDANCE 07: Unbecoming

Underneath all of the invisible things you carry, do you recognize your face? Do you remember who you are? What if one day, you decide to just take it all off? In this contemporary piece, Caryn, Kris, and Myla explore the vulnerability that comes with unlearning all of the things we’ve been told to be; the power of removing the unnecessary.

Take off your skin, unfold all of the expectations, and exhale. In the process of unbecoming, you just might become.

performed by
Kris Isaac Flojo
Caryn Ortiz Guerrero
Myla Tan Santiago

produced by
Polecats Manila

song
Lovely by Billie Eilish with Khalid

ASCENDANCE 06: undertow

AJ and CD perform a precarious chair dance, at the mercy of sand and sea. They are tethered, bound by forces that pull them towards the deep and towards each other.

They dance against the tides. But as the waters rise, they go willingly to their drowning.

ASCENDANCE 05: Little Death

A brief loss. A weakening of consciousness. We may look alive on the outside, but slowly dying on the inside.  Jenika bares skin and soul in this sensual pole piece.

This is part of Polecats Manila's 12th Anniversary showcase called ASCENDANCE. Every month, from October 2021 to October 2022, we will be releasing one video, each capturing a different facet of a growing, changing, evolving pole and aerial arts school and performance group.

This is the 5th chapter of our story. Stay tuned for the end of every month for the next ones.

song
Compliqué by Ichon (IG: @ichonabracadabluemacadam)

special thanks
Josh Tolentino
Ednah Camiller

ASCENDANCE 04: EXO

There are beings that exist in the dark edges of the visible world, just outside the light.

In this video, Margaret pushes the limits in a new apparatus-- rings-- and shows a side of her we've never seen before.

performed by
Margaret Jade Chua Lao

song
Placas by Zutzut

venue
Gteknika Gym

production crew
Fiona Ong

creative direction
Albert Job Bautista
Christina Dy

ASCENDANCE 03: un|bound

That longing to come undone, while wrapped in the arms of someone you love. Finding yourself, as you lose yourself, all at the same time.

Silks + floor + heels, an equation we've never put together before, pushing our movement to the next level. Josyne Pacaldo expresses flight on the floor. Watch un|bound, the third chapter in #PolecatsAscendance.

performed by
Josyne Pacaldo

creative direction
AJ Bautista
Christina Dy

song
Cherry by Lana del Rey

ASCENDANCE 02: Hatch

From a crack in a cocoon, what breaks out and blooms, when we are able to shed our outer shells? From a blank slate, what can we paint and create, when we do it together? The next chapter in #PolecatsAscendance is an exploration in shapes, silhouettes, and synergy.

Amaya and Vicky explore this movement in this collaboration piece - forms they can do together, choreography that converges, poses that make each one unique, all originating from one center.

This is HATCH.

performed by
Amaya Gonzalez
Victoria Velasco

music
Too late, all gone by How to Destroy Angels

creative direction
Christina Dy
Albert Job Bautista

prop lights
Marco Ortiga

ASCENDANCE 01: photomorphogenesis

It is in the darkest of times that we appreciate the warmth of light. But as the storm passes, we realize that in the most unique of ways, there is also beauty in the storm.

photomorphogenesis is the first of Polecats Manila's 12th Year project.

Experience one facet of the company through dance videos released every month. This is the first of the next dozen chapters in our story.

performed by
Kayleen Ortiz on Aerial Hammock

music
Feel First Life by John Hopkins

production team
James Oliver
Aina Montoyo
Lorna Reginio

creative direction
Christina Dy
AJ Bautista

Twelve years of defying gravity is no small feat. This year as we celebrate a dozen years of flight, we'll take you even higher with #neXtlevelmovement.

For the next 12 months, we will release one video each, showcasing a facet of Polecats Manila - movements and concepts as varied as the people that make our company.

Come and celebrate #neXtlevelmovement with us! This is our first video.