“ Enrico Labayen possesses one of the most formidable backgrounds in dance, his training comes close to covering the entire dance diaspora. He is an adept dance historian, lecturer, performer, choreographer and ballet master. Unparallelled as a performer, he has displayed technical and artistic mastery of the broadest range in principal roles of the classical, neo-classical and modern repertoire. He has devoted the majority of his time in choreography and teaching; exhibiting a prowess that has gained international recognition”

-Alonzo King, Artistic Director/Choreographer, LINES Contemporary Ballet

Training:

Teachers:

Professional Performance:

Ballet Master:

Grants and Commisions:

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; which included Lea Salonga, Josie Natori, Lou Diamond Philipps, Jessica Hagedorn and Tia Carrera

"...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) for Dance in the 2004 Araw ng Maynila (Manila Day) celebration

2005: Named as a Global Filipino by the Filipino Channel (TFC), an ABS-CBN international channel together with Cecile Licad (pianist), Josie Natori (fashion designer); Michael Dadap (guitarist); Governor Ceyetano (former State Governor of Hawaii); Lea Salonga (Broadway actress)

2006: International Travel Grant to Australia for Dance Workshop Training and Cultural Caregiving Program, granted by National Commission on Culture and the Arts (Philippines)

2007: Artist in resident at Djerrassi Artist Residency (USA) and Rimbun Dahan Artist Residency (Malaysia)

Choreographic Professional Performances:

What Critics Say:

“Rarely does a choreographer of contemporary dance manage to combine gracefully the technical precision and elegance of classical ballet with the innovation of modern dance, Enrico Labayen succeeds at this task…hypnotic and mesmerizing, a refreshing vision of contemporary dance.” - Dance Magazine

“…top-flight professional artist.” - The New York Times

“…powerful, controversial and wildly innovative, Labayen brings works of resistance in substance and form.” - Daily Tribune, Philippines

“ Labayen’s work cannot be described as modern dance, powerfully expressive…a new star.” - General Anzeiger, Germany

“an erotic power play between the sexes, the use of pointe work not only offered optical elevation but supported women’s erotic aggression.” - Neue Westfalische

“Labayen creates indelible images in dance that one cannot forget easily…sheer genius.” - Arab Daily

“a quintessential contemporary choreographer who creates works rarely seen elsewhere.” - SF Pride

"a landscape of impression, imagery and beauty...expressing ancient but still relevant experience through dance" - Straits Times, Singapore

“Labayen’s work and his company should be shown in the major cities of the world.” - Hans Otto Theatre, Germany

“Exquisite and evocative, complete and in a class by itself.” - Manila Bulletin

“Labayen’s work redefines and challenges traditional dance ideas and conventional musical values yet all together in a soft blend that is distinctly personal and intelligent.” - Philippine Daily Inquirer

“Enrico Labayen succeeded in returning to his ancestral roots…a meditation on technology and humanity…a post modern tribe.” - Asian Week, USA

The Choreography of Enrico Labayen
Chronology of Ballets: 1990-2008

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