Jason Ignacio
Jason Garcia Ignacio's career includes significant international work, choreographing, teaching, workshops, and master classes at dance companies, festivals, and institutions across five continents.
Born
in Manila, Philippines, Ignacio began dancing at the age of 12 with Gigi Felix
Velarde-David, Ballet Philippines and Philippine Ballet Theater. In 1998, Jason
caught the eye of Sofia Zobel Elizalde while performing with the Earth Savers DREAMS
Ensemble, he studied Korean ritual dance at the University of Theatre of
Nations (Seoul, Korea) and soon after he became the first male scholar of the
Steps Dance Studio, which follows the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. In
2001, Ignacio moved to New York City on behalf of Steps to further his training
with thanks to scholarships from Ballet Hispanico of New York, The Ailey
School, and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Ignacio debuted
with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company and shortly thereafter joined Graham II
as a principal dancer, traveling across the United States performing the iconic
works of Martha Graham.
He
has performed as a principal dancer and soloist for companies such as
Cortez'nCo., Connecticut Ballet, Verb Ballets, and American Repertory Ballet.
In 2007, Mr. Ignacio moved to Washington, DC to join CityDance Ensemble,
"Washington's preeminent modern dance company" (Washington Times,
2003), where he served as a principal dancer and a choreographer.
He has performed with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, Diversity of Dance, Cortez and Co., Connecticut Ballet, Zig-Zag Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Verb Ballets, and was an apprentice for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. He has also performed in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats as Mistoffolees at numerous regional theaters and was a principal dancer of the off-Broadway musical Traumnovela.
Ignacio
has earned many awards throughout his career, including being named as one of
the "Top 20 Showstopper Artists" by the Washingtonian Magazine in
2008, the 2009 Mayor's Arts Award for "Outstanding Emerging Artist,"
the 2009 MetroDC Dance Award for "Outstanding Individual Performance"
and being awarded the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Local
Dance Commissioning Project in 2009 for his choreography of The Mountain.
He
was granted the "PEARL Cultural Heritage Award" by the Embassy of The
Philippines for his major contribution to the performing arts and
"Champion In Diversity" by the United States Department of
Agriculture. He was featured in the USArts International Bulletin, Gazette,
EDGE Magazine, "ART 202 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities,"
and was on the cover of the National Endowment for the Arts Guide for 2010. |
| Jason Ignacio with Gigi Felix Velarde, his own mentor and theater stalwart Cecile Guidote- Alvarez |
He
is currently a Master Guest Teacher and Artist in Residence at CityDance School
and Conservatory.
You
can catch Ignacio’s most recent work when CityDance presents him at The
Phillips Collection in November. Until then, to keep up with all things Ignacio
visit JasonIgnacio.com.
Sydney Ignacio began his dance training at the age of 14 with Gigi Velarde-David Ballet Dance Workshop.
In 1998, he joined the Earthsavers DREAMS Ensemble where he performed at the World Youth Festival in Lisbon, Portugal following two weeks of performances in London, UK. In January 1999, he received a full scholarship to study at Steps Dance Studio where he earned a grade of "Commended" and "Honors" at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
He also attended several master classes and performed as a Soloist for 5 years in both domestic and abroad performances. Sydney moved to the US in 2006, joining Verb Ballets where he performed works by Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Heinz Poll, Hernando Cortez and many others. In 2009, Sydney moved to Washington, DC and performed with Citydance Ensemble, CityDance2, and Washington Reflexions Dance Company.
He
recently graduated at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and received his
Certificate for Ballet Training Studies (CBTS), holding the distinction of
being the first male in Asia to complete the program
As
of March 2010, he has been elected an Associate of Royal Academy of Dance and
awarded him Associate certificate in recognition of his success at the Advanced
level.
One
of the 10 high calibre international dance artists awarded to participate in
the Dance Omi International Dance Collective that took place in New York and
performed at the Alvin Ailey School and Omi Arts Center in Hudson New York
He
became a resident choreographer and a national coach of the Women’s Gymnastics
Team of the Philippines and accompanied the team in international competitions
held in Macau and Las Vegas
He
had done numerous stage plays with the Gantimpala Foundation.
He
was a “1998 ASEAN Games” silver medalist for Sports Aerobic Gymnastics under
the Team Category that took place in Kuching-Sarawak, Malaysia.He
recently graduated at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and received his
Certificate for Ballet Training Studies (CBTS), holding the distinction of
being the first male in Asia to complete the program.
As
of March 2010, he has been elected an Associate of Royal Academy of Dance and
awarded him Associate certificate in recognition of his success at the Advanced
level.
One
of the 10 high calibre international dance artists awarded to participate in
the Dance Omi International Dance Collective that took place in New York and
performed at the Alvin Ailey School and Omi Arts Center in Hudson New York.
He
became a resident choreographer and a national coach of the Women’s Gymnastics
Team of the Philippines and accompanied the team in international competitions
held in Macau and Las Vegas
He
had done numerous stage plays with the Gantimpala Foundation.
He
was a “1998 ASEAN Games” silver medalist for Sports Aerobic Gymnastics under
the Team Category that took place in Kuching-Sarawak, Malaysia.
Marion Ignacio
Today, he is a Resident Teacher - Classical Ballet.
He
began his dance training in 1994 at the Gigi Felix-Velarde David ballet dance
workshop.
He became one of the first male scholars at the Steps Dance Studio where he passed the Elementary, Advance I, and Advance II RAD examinations.
He
had attended several master classes from world-renowned educators and
choreographers including Max Luna III, Christopher K. Morgan, Nicole Wolcott,
Niurca E. Marquez, Guillaume Compain, Maiqui Manosa, Frank Ohman, Enrico
Labayae, Anatoli Panasiukov, Anna Villadolid-Mayr, Lynn Wallis, and many others.
He
had also became a company member of the Philippine Ballet Theatre from
2001-2003
*pictures and text for this article were freely utilized by the blogger from its varying source. However, the blogger doesn't intend to disown its photographer or writer, this blog was just for compilation of facts and the blogger doesn't intend to claim the copyright of these materials.
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