ENRICO LABAYEN
artistic director
choreographer, dancer, writer
Currently
one of the best Asian - American choreographers in the world, Enrico Labayen,
the soul of LAB. Projekt Group, is a man that is a novel in itself - a
compelling story of dreams,
talent, struggles, hard work and the life
lived to attain the finest art.
Labayen
began his dance career at age 13, studying under New York and Los
Angeles-trained Israel Gabriel and Tony Llacer. Three years after, he
migrated to the United States in the early 1970's with one goal - to
explore more possibilities and hone his craft to the fullest. It was
this determination that led him to search for and train in various
ballet institutions, in which he earned full scholarships. He was
educated in the country's renowned schools such as the American Ballet
Theater, American Dance Center, American Ballet Center and Harkness
Ballet. He also came under the tutelage of modern dance masters,
including Alvin Ailey, Norman Walker, Maggie Black, David Howard,
Patricia Wilde, Leon Danielian, Andre Eglevsky and both Madam Swoboda
and Pereyeslavec.
The decade ahead saw him
captivating audiences and translating the beauty of dance. He performed
a wide range of works from Lucas Hoving, Jose Limon, Rudy Perez, David
Parsons and Joanna Haigood, to Petipa and George Balanchine, and
meanwhile, creating and strengthening his own repertoire. He toured the
United States extensively as well with international ballet stars that
included Edward Villela, Peter Anastos, Melissa Hayden, Fernando
Bujones, Gelsey Kirkland, Clark Tippet and Allegra Kent. Labayen also
worked alongside many ballet and modern dance companies such as the
American Ballet Theater II, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Larry
Richardson Dance Company, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Saeko Ichinohe
Dance Company, Garden State Ballet, Hartford Ballet and the Eglevsky
Ballet.
On the homefront, it was Labayen who paved
the way for Filipino ballet dancers to go beyond their boundaries and
display their inherent talent. In 1983, he, along with Anna Villadolid,
represented the Philippines at the International Ballet Competition
in Jackson (Mississippi, USA), earning the country the distinction of
ability to compete internationally.
Living and working in New York City for 12 years was no
mean feat. Finally, after a life-changing accident that forced him to
come to terms with his life and his art, Labayen sought a change of
pace, his thirst for knowledge and the need to create stronger than
ever.
He moved to San Francisco, where he resumed his career as
a Principal Dancer with LINES Contemporary Ballet. He worked alongside
his fellow choreographer and friend Alonzo King, who created major roles
specifically for him. Apart from the US, he toured and performed with
the company in Eastern Europe.
He had staged his works at different events
and places such as the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival and the
Delacorte Dance Festival in New York, Local 7, Footwork Production,
The Cowell Theatre, theatre Artaud, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
and the Centerspace in San Francisco.
Labayen's exceptional ability to guide the growth of dance
artists has earned him a great following, both here and abroad. Highly
sought after as ballet master and choreographer, he was also touted
as guest artist to more famous institutions including the San Francisco
Opera, Dance Spectrum, Sacramento Ballet., Bern Ballet in Switerland,
Mainz Stadt Theatre, Rotebuhlplatz Stuttgart, Potsdam and Berlin in
Germany, Singapore Dance Theatre, Homgkong Ballet, Ballet Philippines,
Ecole de Manille, ITTI in Amman, Jordan and Philippine Ballet Theatre.
After a long hiatus from home, Labayen was invited back
to Manila in 1990 as the Guest Ballet Master for Ballet Philippines.
It was this stint where he encountered a budding ground for growth,
which led him to form his own dance company - The LAB. Projekt Group-Philippines.
The LAB. Projekt premiered its first experimentations entitled
"Homage" and "Mindstorm" for the 21st Gala of Ballet
Philippines. The group then participated in Neo-Filipino II, where Labayen
collaborated with celebrated painter Ben Cabrera and performed his solo
works at the Baguio Arts Festival, with the late visual artist Santiago
Bose.
Labayen's choreographic journey also led him to represent
the Philippines in the International Arts Festival-Singapore. Broadening
Asian horizons, his work was described as "a landscape of impression,
imagery and beauty...expressing ancient but still relevant experience
through dance" (Straits Times).
The decision to move the company's base from Manila to San
Francisco came in 1991, where he renamed the group Labayen Dance/SF.
By this time, his status as choreographer was further reinforced
by his addition to the faculty of the distinguished San Francisco Institute
of Choreography and SF Unified School Districts' High School of Performing
Arts and SF Dance Center.
Awards:
1981: "Dancer of the Year"
Award by Beaux Arts Society of New York
1992: The Dutch Ministry of Culture
Award
1993: Asian Institute for Liturgy
and Music Fellowship
1994: "Choreographer of the Year"
by Manila Chronicle (Philippines)
1997: The Isadora Duncan Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
2000: Filipinas Magazine: Filipino
American Faces of the Century
"...one of the Filipino Americans whose lives celebrate
all that the Filipino American is capable of and have truly shaped our
history in the United States and given the Filipino Americans and its
community the inspiration to realize their dreams."
2001: Filipinas Achievement Award
"His achievement in creating an extensive body of work
that has enriched the lives of those who witnessed it, gathering critical
and popular acclaim for artistic and cultural endeavours and symbolizing
both the accomplishments of Filipino individuals and arts organizations
and the challenge of increasing opportunities for minorities in the
future."
2004: The "Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan
Award" (Pillar of Culture and Arts) conferred by the City
of Manila for his contribution and influence to the art of dance in
Asia and The Philippines.
