Written By Marie Leen Obal | June 9, 2026
Photographed by Alisandra Sophia M. Untalan
The Legacy That Moves: 30 Years of BDTA, 70 Years of Dance
FOR whom do we do what we do? Is it for our future selves, the people we will be meeting, or the ones who will be left behind? For the Bedanz Dance Troupe Alabang (BDTA) and its founder and moderator Prof. Cynthia N. Manalo — who has been moving to her own rhythm for 70 years — one exhibit and one night on stage last May 30, 2026, answered that question, 30 years in the making.
The Legacy That Moves is a memorabilia exhibit and benefit concert for the community of Marillac Hills Alabang, with tickets priced at P150, all proceeds going directly to the community to help provide essential materials and basic necessities. The exhibit was held at the San Beda Museum and Archives of the Our Lady of Montserrat (OLM) Building. On display were shirts from previous years, costumes from their WNCAA 2024 stint to the present, trophies from WNCAAs and the Lions Roar Awards, Sayaw Hataw tickets and medals, and a photo wall that puts faces to history. The evening continued as it moved to the Tugade Auditorium for the concert.
Photographed by Alisandra Sophia M. Untalan
Where It All Began
Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB, SBCA Rector-President, set the tone for the evening with his opening remarks, highlighting how BDTA has shaped students in the arena of profound human expression over the past three decades, and continues to grow stronger through its evolving practice of dance.
BDTA was founded in 1995 as BEDANCE before evolving into BEDANZ Dance Troupe Alabang in 2002. Behind it all is Prof. Manalo, or “Mommy M” as her dancers lovingly call her, who founded the troupe and continues to serve as its moderator to this day. What began as a personal expression of identity gradually grew into a lifelong commitment, as dance became both her craft and the foundation of a community she has nurtured for thirty years.
The Philippine Barangay Folk Dance Troupe brought traditional Filipino dance to the stage, which was made more meaningful when Prof. Manalo joined them on the floor, carrying the same grace and fire that has defined her for seven decades. At that moment, everything came in full circle as the night stood as a testament to a lifetime defined by movement, artistry, and unwavering devotion to dance.
Movement, Memory, Meaning
The concert was graced by a special appearance from Boboy Garrovillo of the Apo Hiking Society, who performed the iconic “When I Met You” and José Mari Chan's “Beautiful Girl.” The night also belonged to BDTA themselves, who took the stage with their own performances alongside their coach, John Alvin, who also performed. Alumni who could not be present joined through videoconference — proof that the troupe’s reach extends far beyond the room. The evening also paused to honor those who are no longer here, a video tribute to departed BDTA alumni played to Ben & Ben’s “Leaves,” a quiet reminder that some legacies are carried in memory.
BDTA took the stage with their finest work — the championship piece from the WNCAA StreetDance Competition Season 56, a contemporary dance number, and their Sayaw Hataw Vol. XVIII intermission number. For three decades, BDTA has served as a space where students learned discipline, confidence, and self-expression — lessons that often outlast their years on stage. The energy continued as the Sayaw Hataw Vol. XVIII High School Division Champion, Divine Light Dance Company, took the stage, with young dancers who are themselves part of the legacy the night was celebrating.
This was followed by the elegance of ballroom, as five-time Dancesport Champion Ms. Rose Jacob and Mr. Larry Iguidez Jr. guided the audience into a different kind of movement — precise, intentional, and controlled. Miles Borin and the Octoarts Dancers then shifted the mood entirely, filling the auditorium with the pulse of concert disco, before the J Brothers closed the night with a performance that sent the crowd home full. Each act added another layer to a night already defined by movement, memory, and meaning.
Photographed by Alisandra Sophia M. Untalan
Dancing For A Purpose
The night was never just about dancing — it was always something larger. Marillac Hills Alabang has long been BDTA’s chosen beneficiary, a home for abandoned, neglected, and abused women and children whose connection to the troupe extends beyond fundraising alone.
In an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, External Vice President Alyssa Colleen Lusande (IV-BACMS) shared that at its core, BDTA is an organization that seeks to showcase its craft while creating impact through performance. For many of the children at Marillac Hills, dance and performing arts serve as recreation — an opportunity not only to perform, but to share talent and help them develop their own skills and passion. Community involvement, Lusande noted, is one of the values deeply instilled in BDTA, a reminder that they are not just a team, but part of something larger.
Day after day, people move through routines without fully recognizing the impact of their actions on others. They show up, complete their tasks, and carry on, seldom given the space to pause and reflect on what they leave behind. But the question remains: for whom do we do what we do? We do it for moments like this — for the people reached, the lives shaped, and the work that continues to matter beyond what takes place.
Volume 31 | Issue 12
