PRO performing artists Carl Balita, Noni Buencamino, Kenneth Cataylo, Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña (photographed in Spotlight Artists Centre) are now educators.
MANILA, Philippines—International stage performers Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez teaching nursery rhymes and folk dances to pre-schoolers?
It started when the singing couple realized they had reached a point in their careers when performing was no longer enough, and that it was time to pay back.
Seña and Alvarez both played major roles in the West End production of “Miss Saigon” in the late ’80s. Seña portrayed The Engineer; Alvarez originated the role of Gigi. They were also in the cast of the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” and joined other productions in Europe.
“To train Filipino artists has always been our dream,” Seña told Inquirer Entertainment. “We believe there are a lot of great performers out there. Sadly, most of them just want to become superstars, walang depth.”
Courses
This observation drove the couple to put up Spotlight Artists Centre, a school for the performing arts, along with partners Tricia Amper Jimenez, Carl and Lyn Balita, Noni Buencamino and Kenneth Cataylo.
Spotlight offers classes in voice, instruments (piano, guitar, violin and drums) and dance (ballroom and tap). Group sessions on dance and musical theater (acting, singing and dancing) can also be arranged.
A separate class, Spotlight Kids, introduces folk dances and ethnic instruments, alongside nursery rhymes and dances, to pre-schoolers.
The Karaoke Star Program includes vocalization and microphone technique. A four-month integrated workshop on acting, scriptwriting and directing under Inquirer resident critic Nestor Torre is also ongoing.
“We see ourselves going into production,” said Alvarez. “I’ve started producing and directing our shows. My dream is to form a group of actors and come up with original Filipino works.”
Balita said the group is gearing up for Spotlight workshops in major cities across the country.
Vision
“Robert and Isay are international talents. They are Broadway stars. They want to share what they’ve learned through decades of performance,” Balita added. “Our greater vision is to sell Spotlight to other Asian countries. We can market Robert and Isay as Filipino artists doing workshops in foreign lands.”
According to Alvarez, majority of Spotlight’s faculty members are graduates of the UP and UST Conservatory of Music.
“We see to it that our teachers are not just educators, but also performers. Our vocal coaches did not only finish voice courses, they are also members of various singing groups,” Balita said.
The group takes pride in its four-month integrated workshop on acting, scriptwriting and directing. “Actors will understand why a script is written in a certain way, why they are directed to act in a certain manner,” Balita explained. “On the other hand, directors will understand how his scriptwriter and actors think.”
The 70-sq. m. Spotlight Artists Centre in Makati City has five classrooms and a rehearsal room. Mounted on the walls are framed photos and posters of the Señas’ shows here and abroad.
This early, the news is that Spotlight is expanding. Already, there are requests for the school to open in other Metro Manila cities.
(Spotlight Artists Centre is located at Basement 122 Dona Consolacion Bldg., Jupiter St Makati City. Tel. nos. 899-8089 and (0922) 898-6644.)
Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph
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