“The best way to become good at ballroom dancing is to keep on doing it.” This is one of the most often heard maxims in the business, and I think it is sound advice. The experience gained from going to every dance session is invaluable for building confidence and knowledge of what is expected. La Nuestra Senora de Baile, Rebecca “Becky” Ylaya-Laurel, and her regular ballroom dance classmates at the Le Baile of Grand Men Seng Hotel corroborate this. Together with their favourite dance instructors, these fiery mamacitas promote a thriving and vibrant ballroom dance scene in Davao City.
“We particularly love Argentine Tango and we have nurtured our love for this passionate dance form in every way we could. We continue to nourish our passion by holding regular ballroom dancing at least once a week and a milonga (Tango Night) at least once a month. Never mind if not all of us dance the Tango in a perfect manner. What we do, however, is to try and dance from the heart and just enjoy,” she revealed. “It is when we get the opportunity to get involved with excellent Tango masters from abroad and experience their dance classes, workshops, pre- or post-show talks and discussions that we continue to understand more and learn more about this dance that that drives us crazy like the rest of the ballroom dance enthusiasts all over the country,” stated madam Becky in her welcome remarks last January 24.
What is inspiring about madam Becky and her fellow dancers is the utter commitment to developing audiences, to offering opportunities for people to get involved in dance who otherwise would have no way in, and to working with some of the most exciting names in international dance such as master Tanguero Marcos Questas and his extremely talented partner, La Belle Ruta Maria.
It was an exceptional Tango performance held at Le Baile that I witnessed. The dedicated Tango masters Marcos and Ruta Maria so impressed Davao’s Tango fanatics, who call themselves Locos Por Tango, that special night with their high standard of technique, enthusiasm and professionalism. The duo performed each challenging Tango piece, which they personally choreographed, with utmost style, precision, sensuality and charisma. Such precision exhibited that there was no room for mistakes. What a most enjoyable performance, with every number as exciting as the next. And what dynamic, vivacious, thoroughly intriguing artistes Marcos and Ruta Maria truly are.
“I didn’t even know Argentine Tango exists in this part of the world; and I am sure glad it does!” expressed Marcos who also told the audience that he first learned to dance the Argentine Tango from his grandfather in Buenos Aires when he was just six years old. The statuesque Ruta Maria who performed in a revealing lavender, lacey dance outfit stood beside her man in complete approval. She was stunning; a real goddess of dance to behold!
The presently Las Vegas-based Marcos Questas established himself first with the gaucho style of dancing followed by the Argentine Tango at 16 years old. After performing in “Argentine Tango & Pampa” at the Café Homero in Buenos Aires, he was immediately hired to join a world tour of the “Viva Tango.” By the time the tour ended, Marcos opted to stay in Los Angeles and, for the next several years, shared his time and talent as a special act and Tango maestro. Choreographing and staging numerous productions such as the Latin Grammy’s, La Argentina with international soprano Jula Miguines, and Great Performances: Andrea Bocelli Amore Under the Desert Sky are some of his unforgettable favourites. Marcos’ international performances included those at the Palais de Papes in Avignon, France, the Olympia Theater of Paris, the National Theater of London, and the Carnegie Hall in New York. With the positive audience reception he received while performing, he pursued his personal endeavour in sharing the art of Tango with many enthusiasts. “Understanding the complexity of this stimulating dance is based first on establishing and executing a high level of technique while having fun,” he convinced the mesmerized audience at Le Baile.
The fantastic Lithuanian, Ruta Maria, on the other hand, is a living proof of how a dancer should be brilliant in all the different dance techniques with the classical ballet technique as the most important foundation. Ruta Maria began dancing and training in classical ballet at the Nevada Ballet. At the age of 11 years, she joined the Bolshoi Ballet and trained in the Vagaonova Method. She represented the USA in International Ballet Competitions. The talented woman has performed principal roles for the Jacksonville Ballet, Civic Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater and Cirque du Soleil. Ruta Maria’s love for Argentine Tango started in 1998; and she totally submerged herself into this dance form in 2006 when she visited Buenos Aires several times and considered herself an adopted Argentinean. Her accomplished high level of Tango dancing has earned for her the respect of professional Tangueros worldwide.
What a special Tango Night, indeed, as promised by Davao’s very own Tangueros and madam Becky Y. Laurel. Oh yes, I felt the passion and dedication to Argentine Tango that night. Thanks to ace photographer Paul V. Borromeo, I was able to focus on Marcos and Ruta Maria’s performance without having to take pictures myself. And what fantastic photos Paul took! Thanks to Tito and Connie Zamora who arranged the Davao visit of Marcos Questas and La Belle Ruta Maria.
