“In every step, in every glide, in every turn, in every stroke of the fingers, in every point of the toes – a graceful dancer is made,” shared Dr. Teresita “Teray” Ecube Portugalete, founder of the Dance School of Teray Ecube Portugalete (Dance STEP), as her studio celebrates ten years of molding budding young dancers into award-winning firecrackers of grace and energy.
Dance STEP’s almost 300 strong students took to the stage on Saturday, June 2, for the dance studio’s recital and summer culmination activity at the Northwing Activity Center of SM City Iloilo – treating Ilonggos to stellar performances and dynamic dance moves.
Founded by Portugalete with the support of her close friend Prof. Reynaldo “Rey” Madjos Susbilla Jr. in 2008, right after she graduated college at the West Visayas State University – College of Physical Education, Sports, Culture, Arts and Recreation (WVSU-PESCAR), Dance STEP has grown into one of the biggest dance studios in the region.
“Rey and I have been dance partners since we were at college at PESCAR,” shares Portugalete. “Both of us come from underprivileged families and really, during that time, we danced to survive.”
The master dance teacher shares that they competed in different barangays and municipalities contests, and even accepted DI (dance instructor) gigs and local TV variety shows on the side while pursuing their studies.
“When we joined contests, we told ourselves, whether we like it or not, we have to win – not for ourselves, sometimes not even for the title – but because we needed the money,” relates Portugalete. “I needed to help provide for my family and Rey was self-supporting even as a student. If we didn’t dance we couldn’t put food on the table.”
The duo’s hardwork and perseverance finally paid off during their senior year, when they won the national championship at the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges DanceSport competition in 2006, and the national State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association DanceSport title in 2007.
After college, both Portugalete and Susbilla pursued Masters in Physical Education, specializing in dance, while also beginning to establish what would eventually become Dance STEP.
“I always feel so blessed remembering we started with only around seven or eight students during our first year with Dance STEP, now we have nearly 300,” said Portugalete. “We thought we were establishing a dance studio lang, Dance STEP has become a big happy family.”
Dance STEP – built on the unwavering dedication of Portugalete and Susbilla – has produced many regional and national dance champions in its first decade of helping train and hone fledgling talents, with students that range from as young as three-years old to budding dancers in their late 20s.
“We want to help student’s build their self-confidence and discipline, and help them shape a positive attitude,” shares Susbilla on the transformative goals of Dance STEP.
“Seeing our students dancing on stage, enjoying themselves, it’s really fulfilling,” says Portugalete “Especially since with most of our students, it’s their first time on stage.”
Dance STEP is the only studio in Iloilo that heads to the grassroots to find young students and make lessons more accessible to them, having branches in the towns of Oton, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igabaras, San Joaquin, and Gaisano City in Iloilo City.
With plans of establishing their own building and dance studio on the way, Dance STEP hopes to grow and welcome even more students in the near future.
Here’s to another decade of grace and poise for Dance STEP!/PN
