Myra Beltran Dance Forum

In 1989, dancer Myra Beltran performed at the outdoor installation, "Labyrinth" of visual artist Roberto Villanueva at the CCP grounds. From then on, she pursued collaborations with artists of different disciplines, exploring alternative venues for performance, and sought her choreorgraphic vision. In 1994, after her first full solo concert "Women Waiting, she was give a grant by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and in 1995, her group of dancers called themselves Dance Forum.

Today this group of contemporary dance artists, bound by a common commitment to explore dance, is a significant influence in contemporary dance in the Philippines. It has spawned fresh initiatives in the choreographic art and pursued collaborations with a wide range of artists. In 1997, it proudly opened the use of a studio-theatre to stage its experimental work, pioneering the use of alternative venues for dance.

"On a lonely path where no Filipino dancer has treaded," as one writer put it, Myra Beltran formed Dance Forum in 1995 and has since led a generation of committed dance artists into new terrain in Philippine dance.

She has amassed a distinct body of work and holds a unique place in Philippine dance because she has accomplished this almost single-handedly. Her Dance Forum space has produced many artists’ work and is currently on its eighth year.

Among the choreographer’s work it has produced are the work of are Paul Morales, Dwight Rodrigazo, Denisa Reyes, Christine Maranan, Jojo Lucila, Enrico Labayen.

It has also collaborated with artists of various disciplines in its space. Among the most visible ones of its artist collaborators are Alfonso Bolipata, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Anton Juan, Bencab, Roberto Feleo, Karen Flores, Dr. Ramon Santos, Ramon Bolipata.