“There’s a Japanese-Filipino choreographer, Riehata, performing at Solaire this June,” my desk editor at Rappler messaged me. “You might want to feature her?”
I didn’t know who Riehata was back then, but curiosity — and a welcome break from my usual routine — piqued my interest.
A few weeks later, I received another invite to cover the launch of Stella Dance Jam, a program organized by the Japan Foundation Manila to cultivate dance exchanges between our two countries. I happened to be in Manila that week for the 4th ICC Philippines Arbitration Day, so when I was asked to cover her visit instead, it felt like a refreshing shift. For a few hours, I traded my work laptop for a notebook, stepping out of the rigid world of cross-border dispute resolution and into the fluid, kinetic world of dance.
When I arrived at Solaire, the atmosphere was a stark departure from the conferences I usually attend. Instead of the hushed, measured tones of legal and corporate delegates, the room buzzed with the frantic, creative energy of a media launch. Photographers adjusted lenses to find the perfect angle, and organizers managed last-minute logistics with polite, polished smiles.
Then, Riehata stepped onto the stage. She radiated a magnetic confidence that immediately hushed the room.
