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Vella C. Damian ACBF
Founder and Artistic Directress
There is no mistaking that Vella C. Damian is a consummate dancer and teacher in the world of Philippine Dance. Testimonies about her passion, commitment and artistry in ballet abound. Steve Villaruz, a dance writer and critic, described her as a “mad woman” where dance is concerned because she has enriched the artistic life and culture of this country, by her teaching and directing, her dreaming and perhaps, scheming, by the essence of her ever female, ever fatal personality.” Dance critic Edna Vida declares that she is “one of the most respected teachers in the land…who has produced some of our finest dancers.”
Multi-awarded Ms. Damian, however, remains grounded despite numerous accolades that have been heaped on her delicate shoulders. Her alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas honored her in 1982 with an Outstanding Alumnae Award for her “share in encouraging Philippine ballet, representing it at its best.” In 2001, the City of Manila conferred on her the Parangal Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan sa Larangan ng Sayaw. A year later, she was elevated to the Roll of Honor, Outstanding Thomasian Award in the Field of Arts and Culture. The Saint Theresa’s College, Quezon City has included her in their exclusive list of Theresian Trail Blazers for her pioneering work in the development and growth of dance in the Philippines. In 2009, Ms. Damian added another feather to her cap when no less than Christine Walsh of the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet, Australia, honored her with a Fellow Award (ACBF), making her the only dance educator in the country to achieve that distinction.
Beginning ballet training under a scholarship from Remedios (Totoy) de Oteyza, Ms. Damian’s star began to shine brightly. From then on, she has trained in the schools of the late George Balanchine and Robert Joffrey in New York City (1966-1968). Ms. Damian has traveled extensively on various study tours and consultation grants with renowned ballet schools and companies worldwide that enlighten her about dance developments globaly. She wouldn’t have it any other way because she firmly believes that learning knows no age, no boundaries.
The remarkable career of Ms. Damian also includes performing as principal dancer for De Oteyza’s Hariraya Ballet Company, where she again distinguished herself after having been personally selected by Madame Sulamith Messerrer of the Bolshoi Ballet to essay, with partner Eric V. Cruz, the Paquita Grande Pas. Ms. Damian, known for her dramatic flair in ballet, is the only Filipina ballerina for whom five full-length ballets were created. These include Carmen, Medea, La Gitana (original composition by Jeffrey Ching) by E. V. Cruz, and The Haunted Ballroom by Remedios de Oteyza.
This outstanding dancer and teacher is also responsible for the creation of dance companies such as the Dance Concert Company with Eric V. Cruz and Exequiel Banzali, as well as the School of Ballet and Dance Arts, which to hundreds of students and dance patrons today, is now recognized as the Vella C. Damian School of Ballet. She co-founded the Association of Ballet Academies of the Philippines (ABAP), principally because of her vision to bring together the country’s dance directors to address common issues plaguing the industry, as well as to work for the advancement of dance studies nationwide. Moreover, Ms. Damian also co-founded the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) and assumed the roles of rehearsal master for the company, as well as a member of its Artistic Council for four seasons. As if that was not enough, Ms. Damian also co-authored with Felicitas L. Radaic and the late Noordin Jumalon the National Ballet Syllabus. She is also accountable for bringing in the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet (ACB) into the country. Apart from her main studio, Ms. Damian is also director of her other schools that include St. Paul College, Pasig, St. Paul University in Quezon City, the New Manila Ballet, and Colegio San Agustin Centro De Baile Clasico.
Years ago, she co-founded with Ms. Merle Clarete and Pamela Ortiz-Bondoc the Philipine Association for the Advancement of Dance Studies.
