Jean Garcia: Dancing to Her Heart’s Content

It’s a special coincidence that actress Jean Garcia has not one but two projects about dance that will be shown very soon. The first is a primetime danserye or a TV series about dancing (hence the term “danserye”) on GMA Network and the second is the film Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, an entry in the New Breed Category of the 2011 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

“It’s my 11th project for the Kapuso network,” Jean says of her latest TV show which, as of press time, does not have a final title yet. She had just wrapped up scenes for the afternoon program Alakdana last summer when she plunged into preparations and taping for this new endeavor. Jean plays the role of Lisa, a dancer with big dreams. Along the way to fulfilling her goals, the character of Lisa gets entangled in a romantic triangle which threatens her chances at stardom.

“Tough” does not quite describe the kind of work that she and her co-stars Cherie Gil, Raymond Bagatsing, Emilio Garcia, Mark Herras, Kris Bernal, Rocco Nacino, directors Mark Reyes and Andoy Ranay, and the rest of the dedicated team are doing. Each episode features production number. As such, they tape scenes four times a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) and rehearse twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays). That leaves Sunday as the cast and crew’s rest day. But Beth delos Reyes-Rivera, Jean’s handler at DMV Entertainment says that Jean is so into the danserye that she is willing to rehearse on a Sunday if necessary. “It’s because she’s a perfectionist,” Beth says of Jean. “Para pagdating ng taping, ite-take na lang ang mga eksena niya.”

In spite of the hectic schedule, the youthful Jean remains tireless. She’s thankful for the fitness benefits of doing a dance series. “Papayat ako dito at magiging toned ang muscles ko!” Jean cheers.

But more than that, she enjoys the chance to fulfill her passion for dancing. In fact, Jean began dancing even before she started acting. “Nag-ballet lessons ako when I was Grade 5 or Grade 6,” she cites.

She got further training on That’s Entertainment where she was a mainstay, and on the variety show of Star for All Seasons Ms. Vilma Santos, Vilma! where Jean did a few opening numbers when award-winning actress Ate Vi was pregnant and could not do the gravity-defying dancing. “Hindi ba maraming lifting ang mga opening production numbers sa Vilma?’ reminds Jean.

Her eyes sparkle when the subject of dancing is brought up. And the excited way she talks tells of how much she is into this dance form. So much so that when independent producer Alemberg Ang and director Alvin Yapan approached Jean through manager Manny Valera of DMV Entertainment for a film on poetry and dance, the actress immediately said “yes!”

In the story of the Cinemalaya film Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (screening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Greenbelt 3 from July 14-25), Jean plays Karen, a literature professor who moonlights as a choreographer and dance teacher. Marlon, a student at the university, enrolls in Karen’s dance class to impress and get closer to the point of seeking the help of Dennis, another dancer, as tutor to know the basic steps. Many scenes are shot in the beautiful art deco campus of Far Eastern University (FEU).

Portraying Marlon and Dennis, respectively, are GMA Kapuso stars Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino. It’s the first time for Paulo, Rocco and Jean to act in an independent film.

Director Alvin Yapan (who made the film Rapture of Fe starring Irma Adlawan, which won Best Digital Film in the 2009 Cairo International Film Festival) says that Jean is a natural as a choreographer-dance teacher. “She knows how to dance and she has the graceful body of a dancer.”

For Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Jean performs a couple of jazz and ethnic-inspired dance sequences. Jean opens the film with a complicated solo number. “The role requires every part of Jean’s body to act,” says Direk Alvin, “including her hands, arms, legs and even neck.”

The one who coached Jean in the complicated dance scenes is international choreographer Eli Jacinto who runs Team Dance Studio and has taught several professional troupes like the Philippine Ballet Theater, Hiraya Ballet Company and the Bayanihan Dance Company.

Each day that Jean rehearsed and shot for the film was a great experience for her. “I looked forward to going to the set.”

Her favorite scenes? “All the dances! Hindi lang yung dance scene ko. Gustung-gusto ko yung sayaw ni Rocco, yung sayaw ni Pao, yung sayaw naming tatlo. Medyo mahirap lang kuhanan ang mga sayaw kasi paulit-ulit na ginagawa dahil kailangan i-take from different angle.”

All in all, Jean feels thankful to be given a chance to act and dance. After all, not all actors and actresses are given the chance to showcase their multiple talents. Sure moving to music is a pleasurable experience but Jean acknowledges the kind of training that dancing also gives. “It produces discipline,” says Jean. She speaks for her co-actors-slash-dancers when she says, “We’re very devoted and we feel fulfilled when we see the completed dance on screen. Dancing is a way towards perfection.”