The Company

Alice Reyes is one of the key persons in the development of Philippine Dance. Her legacy continues on with the rise of a new dance company, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. What started out as a way to survive the pandemic is now a company of artists with a goal to transform lives through dance. With Alice Reyes, National Artist for Dance, founder and artistic consultant, dancers are nurtured to be artists, choreographers and teachers with strong voices.

Ronelson Yadao, Artistic Director

Malate, Manila

Ronelson Yadao has danced on many stages around the world. He came back home after dancing with Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan with a renewed passion to share all that he had learned. Some of the roles he has performed as a professional dance artist include the lead in Norman Walker’s “Songs of the Wayferer”, the Prince in Effie Nanas’ “Snow White” and ‘Don Rafael’ in Alice Reyes’ “Amada”. A talented choreographer, he has created notable works including “Sama-Sama,” “Ma,” and “Maupay”. Now the artistic director of ARDP, he views things with a fresh perspective and desire’s to make dance accessible to everyone. While dancing with the company, he has created notable choreographic works, including “Ma” and “Balanghai” for the 18th Cinemalaya Film Festival. He recently conducted the Dapitan Movement Workshop where the participants got to dance with Alice Reyes Dance Philippines in Edna Vida's "Limang Dipang Tao." Ronelson is also currently the Associate Artistic Director of the Guang Ming College (GMC) Artist Residency Program in Tagaytay.

Erl Sorilla

Iloilo City

One’s eyes will immediately be drawn to Erl who dances with beautiful lyricism. A seasoned professional dance artist, he has performed featured roles such as the first couple in Denisa Reyes’ “Love Lies Bleeding” and one of the pas de deux in Bam Damian’s “After Whom.” He has also been part of projects with the CCP such as the “Dance On!” Series, where he was featured as a dancer in John Ababon’s moving solo, “Inlababo.” Erl is also a talented choreographer taking inspiration from our unique existence of being Filipino. His notable choreographic works include, “The Weight on Our Toes”, “Langit-Lupa” and “Motherland” and “Musa” which was featured in “Dance On!”. Erl’s latest work is three pieces for “The Visayan Suite of Dances,” which was featured in the ARDP launch in Dapitan City last July 2022. In the future, he hopes to develop Philippine Dance as an inspiration to the entire dance community.

Lester Reguindin

Cavite City

When Lester is on stage, one will immediately notice his long lines and the strong quality of his dancing. He has essayed many featured roles as a seasoned professional dance artist such as one of the trio in Biag Gaongen’s “Re-FORM” for the Professional Dance Support Program’s “Dance On!” Online dance series, ‘Oberon’ in Carlo Pacis’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and ‘Manama’ in Alice Reyes’ “Tales of the Manuvu.” With the ARDP, he has danced featured roles including the lead in Erl Sorilla’s “Tong Tong” from “The Visayan Suite of Dances”. As a choreographer, he has created notable works such as “We Men”, “Tuloy na Tuloy Parin” in “Tuloy Ang Pasko!” and “NOW” for the CCP’s “Dance On!” online series. Lester is also quite the chef cooking delicious dishes like baby back ribs. In the future, he would like to open a dance school and restaurant with his wife, Sarah Alejandro.

Dan Dayo

Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

One will immediately watch Dan with his high jumps, big movement, and solid or “bato” body, as his co-dancers would describe. He has done many featured roles as a seasoned professional dance artist including Lester Reguindin’s “Gomburza,” the lead couple in Erl Sorilla’s “Kasadya” from “Visayan Suite of Dances,” ‘Puck’ in Carlo Pacis’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and one of the creations in Redha Benteifour’s “Opera.” He has been part of many projects for CCP such as being a demonstrator for the “From the Artist’s Perspective” online lecture series and his performance in multiple choreographic works for the Professional Dance Support Program’s “Dance On!” Online series. Dan is also a young choreographer, one of his recent works being the lively “Kumukutikutitap” in the original production of “Tuloy Ang Pasko!”. In the future, he wishes to have his own dance school and train the next generation of dancers in his hometown, Nueva Ecija.

Sarah Alejandro

Davao City

Just call her name and she’ll be there. Sarah is one of the most reliable members of the company. Fondly called “Mommy Sawee,” she goes out of her way to help others be it in dance or in life. Sarah is an expert in multi-tasking. She is a beautiful dancer, having danced featured roles in her professional dance career, such as ‘Tadtarin’ in Alice Reyes’ “Amada”, which won her a Gawad Buhay Award, and one of the solos in the “Grand Pas de Quatre” for CCP’s “Dance On!” Online Series. Sarah is an active member of the ARDP administrative team and also acts as our in-house doctor. She is also a ballet teacher in the School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. One day, she hopes to have her own ballet school with her husband, Lester Reguindin, to teach and hone students to be beautiful artists and contributing individuals of society.

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Ejay Arisola

Iloilo City

Ejay may be quiet but his dancing booms louder than any voice. A respected and strong dancer, he has performed a wide range of notable roles including ‘Bonifacio’ in Agnes Locsin’s “La Revolucion Filipina”, ‘Prince Charming’ in Alice Reyes’ “Cinderella” and ‘Young Val’ in “Tuloy Ang Pasko!”. For the Professional Dance Support Program’s “Dance On!” online series, Ejay essayed the role of ‘Conrad’ in the “Grand Pas de Trios” from “Le Corsaire.” He has been part of many projects with CCP such as being a demonstrator for the “From The Artist’s Perspective” online lecture series. Ejay yearns for growth in dance or in life. In his downtime, he watches a lot of movies, TV series, and anime, getting inspiration from the stories they depict. One can see how he applies all he has learned to his life’s learning processes, finding joy and fulfillment in life’s challenges.

Monica Gana

Manila City

Monica is known to be quite soft-spoken but, when dancing on stage, she sparkles with energy. As a professional dance artist, Monica has enjoyed roles portraying different characters including ‘Juliet’ in Alice Reyes’ “Romeo and Juliet” and the second couple in Denisa Reyes’ “Love Lies Bleeding.” With the ARDP, Monica has performed roles such as the heartbroken woman in Erl Sorilla’s “Ay, Kalisud” from “Visayan Suite” and ‘Young Sab’ in “Tuloy Ang Pasko!”. She has been part of many projects with the CCP such as being a lecturer for the “From the Artist’s Perspective” online lecture series. In her downtime, Monica likes to bake, finding joy in creating sweet treats. Monica is a ballet teacher in the School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. She hopes to continue helping students grow and learn more about themselves through dance.

Ma. Celina Dofitas

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

It’s easy to spot Macel with her long legs and beautiful feet. She has taken on different roles as a professional dance artist such as ‘Myrtha’ in “Giselle”, Christmas Past in Edna Vida’s “A Christmas Carol” and one of the leads in Carlo Pacis’ “Weighted Whispers”. With the ARDP, she has performed as the female lead in Lester Reguindin’s “We Men” and the solo ‘Dandansoy’ in Alice Reyes’ “Bungkos Suite.” Macel is an ambitious and driven dancer who finds an opportunity to be better every day. She also has a nurturing side, teaching classical ballet to our Level 2 students in the School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines.

Richardson Yadao

Malate, Manila

Richard is known to brighten up a room with his personality and wit. He has danced many notable roles as a professional dance artist such as ‘Rama’ in Alice Reyes’ “Rama, Hari”, ‘Aguinaldo’ in Agnes Locsin’s “La Revolucion Filipina” and ‘Albrecht’ in “Giselle”. With the ARDP, he has essayed roles in the company’s dynamic repertoire including one of the featured male dancers in Alice Reyes’ “Carmina Burana.” Richard has a deep passion for dance and has a desire to help communities make their lives better with the gift of dance. Richard was part of the recent CCP Sining Galing Arts Therapy Program and Sining sa Eskwela in Surigao del Norte. If he wasn’t dancing, he could be a comedian and would surely make everyone fall off their seats with laughter.

Renzen Arboleda

Tondo, Manila City

Renzen is a hard-working dancer well trained in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and street dance, with an intense desire for continuous technical and performing improvement. Renzen has grown as a young professional with the company. He has been part of projects with CCP including the Professional Dance Support Program and its live show “A Christmas Celebration” last December 2021. Renzen is now one of the company’s up-and-coming artists dancing featured roles including AL Abraham’s solo “Kada Paningkamot”. In the future, he hopes to become a wealthy and successful entrepreneur so that he can build his own school and help less fortunate kids have equal opportunities in his hometown, Tondo, Manila.

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Karla Santos

Cavite City

Karla will make you smile with her jolly and sweet demeanor. Though she is the youngest member of the company, she has a lot of professional experience behind her with roles such as ‘Lisa’ in “Ang Pilya,” and ‘Dandansoy’ in Alice Reyes’ “Bungkos Suite.” In CCP’s “Dance On!” Online series, she performed in Erl Sorilla’s “Musa” and Lester Reguindin’s “Now.” Karla likens herself to a butterfly, beautiful in all its stages. One can see how true this is as she goes into each day with perseverance looking forward to learning something new every day.

Michaella Carreon

Quezon City

Eager, and full of motivation, Micha is one of the ARDP young dancers with much to offer. After graduating from the College of Saint Benilde, she started her professional dance career, performing in the company’s varied repertoire including Edna Vida’s “Limang Dipa.” She also performed as the lead in Ronelson Yadao’s piece, “Balanghai,” for the 18th Cinemalaya Film Festival. When she isn’t in the studio, Micha enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, and indoor activities like playing the ukulele.

Ricmar Bayoneta

Iloilo City

Ricmar has a presence that people are drawn to when he’s onstage. With the company, he originated the role of ‘Young Teroy’ in “Tuloy Ang Pasko!” and the male lead in Lester Reguindin’s “We Men.” Outside of dancing, he also worked as one of the assistant videographers in the CCP Professional Dance Support Program’s Online series, “Dance On!” and he continues to capture the company’s important moments as ARDP’s documentation officer.