12 finalists set for WiFi Body PH 2026 showdown

Longest-running contemporary dance competition returns Aug. 22 at UP Diliman.

WiFi Body PH returns for its 12th edition on Aug. 22 at the Ignacio B. Gimenez Theater in UP Diliman, continuing its run as the country’s longest-running choreography competition dedicated to contemporary dance.

Carrying the theme “States of Connection,” this year’s edition invites choreographers to explore forms of connection shaped by necessity—spanning labor, migration, online economies, and intimacy across distance.

The competition will feature 12 finalists presenting original works in two sets: Set A at 2 PM and Set B at 5 PM, followed by a Winners’ Showcase at 7 PM. The showcase will include new works by past winners Buboy Raquitico and Kirby Dunzell.

Now back under independent production through Contemporary Dance Network Manila (CDNM), the 12th edition marks a shift after six years under the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The platform is currently led by curator and co-director Nicole Primero, a finalist in its second edition, alongside co-director Al Garcia, winner of its fifth edition.

Primero said the competition continues to serve as a platform for emerging choreographic voices, offering audiences new perspectives grounded in present-day realities.

Garcia, meanwhile, underscored the significance of returning to independence, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen the contemporary dance community and build a more sustainable ecosystem for artists.

The finalists are Emmanuel Bajala (Roxas, Capiz), KJ Canata (Surigao), Gaby Chavez (Manila), Nikki Gorre (Manila), Tory Cortez (Philippine Ballet Theater), Arianne Dumol (FEU Dance Company), Niño Horario (Timbuok Dance Troupe), Gab Montaño (Guang Ming Dance Project), Daniel Sacil (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Ibarra Toledo (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Jasper Villasis (UP Repertory Company), and Ramona Yusay (Manila).

WiFi Body PH is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and The Japan Foundation, Manila, with additional backing from the AET Koreograpiya Award, UP Department of Arts and Letters, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Dance Program.

Tickets are priced at ₱400 per set, with bundle options available. Discounts apply for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

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