WHO WE ARE
Steps Dance Studio is one of the most innovative and creative dance studios in the country. Boasting state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained dance instructors, Steps offers a variety of dance courses for different age groups and different levels of ability. Its ballet program follows the Royal Academt of Dance (RAD) syllabus.
Founded in 1994 by Sofia Zobel Elizalde, who also serves as Steps' managing director, Steps Dance Studio is among the Philippines' most comprehensive dance schools. It is designed to create an ideal learning environment and aims to be the best and most versatile dance establishment in the Philippines.
OUR MISSION
Steps Dance Studio is a professional and progressive dance school that offers a wide variety of dance classes for all levels and ages. Its faculty is made up of dedicated and passionate teachers whose goal is to cultivate individuality and talent, joy of dance, and good work ethic in its students. Steps is a school that promotes the enjoyment of dance and can also prepare young talented artists to become professional dancers.
OUR VISION
Steps aims to:
• Bring new levels of excellence in dance training
• To create an environment and venue that is conducive for quality dance training
• To develop a new generation of artists that are versatile in dance
• To be a school that can prepare and train young students for professional dance careers
• To promote the joy of dance
We invite you to DANCE with us!
DIRECTOR
Sofia Zobel Elizalde, ARAD | RADRTS
FACULTY
Eurica Balagtas, ARAD | RADRTS (Ballet)
Marion Ignacio, ARAD | RADRTS (Ballet)
Edward Malagkit (Ballet)
Jeffrey Floyd Espejo (Ballet)
Alice Sangco Ledesma (Ballet / Tap)
Jun Saagundo (Modern)
James Laforteza (Jazz)
Liesl Laforteza (Jazz / Ballet)
Xernan Alfonso (Street Dance)
Diana Gagelonia (Street Dance)
RESIDENT PIANIST
PRODUCTION
Joy Matubis (Costume Execution)
Joy Pagdanganan (Costume Supervisor | Dance Shop)
Issa Reyes (Stage Management | Website Development)
ADMINISTRATION
Angie Cervantes (Operations Manager)
Joey Cortez (Accounting)
Jo Alcalde (Reception)
Norma Velasquez (Reception)
Romelyn Aquino (Studio Assistant)
Cecil de Vera (Studio Assistant)
Rene Puyong (Messenger)
SOFIA ZOBEL ELIZALDE, ARAD | RADRTS
- Started dancing at the age of four in the Philippines and received instruction from several teachers such as Chloe Romulo, Felicitas Radaic, Effie Nañas, Inday Mañosa, and William Morgan
- Performed Clara in The Nutcracker at the CCP Dance Company, her first leading role
- Continued her training at the Elmhurst Ballet School in England where she passed her Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Examinations at the Royal Academy of Dance
- Awarded the Sylphilde Cup for Most Outstanding Performance on her graduating year
- Received additional training at the School of American Ballet in New York and San Francisco Ballet School
- Joined Ballet Philippines (BP) when she came back to Manila
- Performed various leading roles in productions such as Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Cinderella, Snow white, A mid Summer Nights Dream, Itim Asu and Alice Reyes' Carmen in BPs Hong Kong and Russian Tour
- Certified teacher and mentor of The Royal Academy of Dance
- Registered RAD teacher, official RAD mentor and Teacher's Representative for the RAD Teachers' Association of the Philippines
- Founder and President of Steps Scholarship Foundation
- Owner and Managing Director of Steps Dance Studio
EURICA BALAGTAS, ARAD | RADRTSResident Teacher - Classical Ballet
- Began training at the Goldcrest Dance Workshop under Dra. Pamela Ortiz-Bondoc, Josette Salang, and Breshnev Larlar
- Received additional training in ballet under Perry Sevidal, Noordin Jumalon, Nonoy Froilan, Thomas Mayr, Anna Villadolid, Ric and Catherine Cullalic, and Tony Fabella; in modern dance under Guillaume Compain and Gerald Mercado; in jazz under The Whiplash, Roni and Para Genuino, Julie Alagde, and James and Liesl Laforteza; in tap under Alice Sangco-Ledesma and Yekyek Mabaquiao
- Accomplished the RAD Primary, Grade, and Vocational Examinations initially under Josette Salang and then under Marie Ramos, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, and Raul Sauz
- Began teaching dance at the Steps Dance Studio in October 2002
- Completed the Certificate for Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) program of the RAD in November 2006
- Finished her Bachelor's degree in Education, major in English, at the St. Scholastica's College in March 2008
MARION IGNACIO, ARAD | RADRTSResident Teacher - Classical Ballet
- Began his dance training in 1994 at the Gigi Felix-Velarde David ballet dance workshop
- One of the first male scholars at the Steps Dance Studio where he passed the Elementary, Advance I, and Advance II RAD examinations
- Attended several master classes from world-renowned educators and choreographers including Max Luna III, Christopher K. Morgan, Nicole Wolcott, Niurca E. Marquez, Guillaume Compain, Maiqui Manosa, Frank Ohman, Enrico Labayae, Anatoli Panasiukov, Anna Villadolid-Mayr, Lynn Wallis, and many others
- A company member of the Philippine Ballet Theatre from 2001-2003
- Recently graduated at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and received his Certificate for Ballet Training Studies (CBTS), holding the distinction of being the first male in Asia to complete the program
- As of March 2010, he has been elected an Associate of Royal Academy of Dance and awarded him Associate certificate in recognition of his success at the Advanced level
- One of the 10 high calibre international dance artists awarded to participate in the Dance Omi International Dance Collective that took place in New York and performed at the Alvin Ailey School and Omi Arts Center in Hudson New York
- A resident choreographer and a national coach of the Women’s Gymnastics Team of the Philippines and accompanied the team in international competitions held in Macau and Las Vegas
- Done numerous stage plays with the Gantimpala Foundation
- Was a “1998 ASEAN Games” silver medallist for Sports Aerobic Gymnastics under the Team Category that took place in Kuching-Sarawak, Malaysia
ED MALAGKITTeacher - Classical Ballet
- Underwent full training in Folk Dancing and Ballet at the age of sixteen (16) at the University of the East Dance Troupe under Mr. Gener Caringal
- Was granted full membership with the CCP Dance Company in 1978 and promoted to principal dancer in 1983
- Trained with renowned local and international dance masters and choreographers such as Alice Reyes (Philippines), Alfred Rodriguez (Sadlers, Wells, London, England), Jon Strippling (Stutgard Ballet, Germany), Kenneth Gilles Pie (Tasmanian Ballet, Australia), Rozel Zide Booth (USA), Eddie Eleajar (Philippines), Gray Veredon (Germany), and many others
- Performed different solos, demi-character roles and principal roles from several ballets and modern dance pieces such as The Russian Dance in the Nutcracker Ballet; Pas De Deux in Swan Lake; Peasant Pax De Deux in Giselle; Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty; Gensano Pas De Deux in Flower Festival; Grand Deux in Paquita and numerous Tachaikovsky pieces
- Was designated as official Ballet Master of the University of the East Dance Troupe from 1978 to 1981
- Joined Dance Arts and Benflor Ballet Academy in 1985
- Joined Philippine Ballet Theatre as guest teacher and subsequently as dance soloist in 1990
- Was elected Artistic Director and President of D.A.N.C.E, an organization of Choreographers and Dance Teachers in 1992
- Joined Filipiniana Dance Troupe (UP) in their International Tour in Germany in 1993
- Serves as resident Ballet and Rehearsal Master of Dancers Incorporated, Artistic Director of TAPESTRY Dance Company, Training Director of Fort Bonifacio Art Foundation, and a member of the Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), an organization of dance mentors, teachers, and choreographers geared towards the upliftment of dance in the country
JEFFREY FLOYD ESPEJOOfficial Coach of STEPS' NAMCYA Candidates for 2011
- Faculty member of Academy One
- Re-staged Excerpts from Nutcracker for the Ayala Malls Tour 2010
- Began his training in classical ballet at the age of 15, as a scholar of Philippine Ballet Theater under the tutelage of Osias Barosso and Lisa Macuja
- Attended classes of Viktor Saveliev, Sergei Bykov, Ira Sitinikova, Tom Mayer, Tatiana Udalenkova, and People's Artist Serguei Vikulov
- Performed with the Hong Kong Ballet in 1996
- Former faculty member of Ballet Manila
- Guest Ballet Master - Ballet Philippines (2005 - 2008) where he was given the opportunity to do choreography for the company. His work includes JAZZANOVA from All that Jazz, Double It Takes and Latin Heat
- Notable roles: Basilio in Don Quixote, The Prince in Nutcracker, Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in Swan Lake, Acteon in Diane et Acteon, Conrad in Le Corsaire, The Prince in Sleeping Beauty
ALICE SANGCO LEDESMAResident Teacher - Ballet | Tap
- Studied classical ballet, modern jazz, tap dance, ballroom dancing, and Spanish dancing
- Mentored by Julie Borromeo, Nicolas Pacana, Nida Onglengco-Pangan, Jimmy Mateo, MAriar Aragon, Annamarie Aragon, Teta Sugay, Señor Guillermo Gomez, and Rose Borromeo
- Trained under Jurgen Schneider and Jacqui Dumont of RAD and Christine Walsh for Russian (Vaganova) Method
- Participated in a teacher seminar for ballet with Valerie Bayley-Logan, a dual examiner of RAD
- Handled dance classes for Dance Arts, Pink Toes, Brent School, Greenhills Preschool, Tabernacle of Faith Christian School, APA Studio, Healthy Tykes, and Satin Slippers
- Choreographed school plays and performances at Brent School (“No No Nanette”); PAREF Schools – Rosefield, Rosehill, Southridge, and Woodrose (“Eat Bulaga”); a special tap dance number for the first major concert of Yamani, Nyoy Volante’s first major concert, and the Valentine concert of Nyoy Volante and Karylle
- Invited to dance for the Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, ING Bank, HSBC Bank, Cebuana Lhuillier, the Puyat Group of Companies, and others
JUN SAAGUNDOTeacher - Modern
- Holds professional diploma in Modern Dance from the Hong Kong Dance Academy for Performing Arts
- Affiliated with the HL/NY Dance Company, E Side Modern Dance Company, Arts Fission Dance Company, and Myra Betran's Dance Forum
- Mentored by Jojo Lucila, Ida Beltran-Lucila, Nonoy Froilan, Edna Vida, Myra Beltran, Paul Old, Aaron Wan, Cehaba Buday, Neil Adams, Rosalinda Newman, Pe Wan Chu, Wendy Chow, Tom Brown, Susan Street, and Natalie Weir
- Performed in the Exposition Dance Fiesta and Urban Sanctuary (Singapore), Klondike Days Festival (Canada), Global Dance 2002, Rites of Spring, and Best of the Island (Germany), Make Over Tour (Taiwan), Prague International Dance Competition, Teatro Silencio Pilipinas (France), and Tugtog @ Sayaw Music and Dance Festival (Philippines)
- Choreographed works that have been featured in the Southeast Asian Choreographic Workshop in Hong Kong and Ballet Philippines' Young Choreographers Arkilahan
- Concurrently the Associate Artistic Director for Chameleon Dance Theatre
JAMES LAFORTEZAResident Teacher - Jazz
- Studied jazz dance under Rene Jofilena, using the Luigi technique
- Trained in Philippine folk dance as company member of the Karilagan Dance Company
- Was a member of Powerdance from 1988 to 2000 and has performed with the group here and abroad
- Choreographed several performances such as Showstoppers and Celebration (for Repertory Philippines), the Little Mermaid; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Honk; the Ugly Duckling (for Trumpets)
- Starred in Trumpets' Mr. Noah's Big Boat in 2004 to 2005
- Staged a jazz dance concert, Red, White and Blue in 2005
- Represented Steps Dance Studio at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, USA in 2005 and 2007, where he trained with master teachers Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Liz Imperio, Randy Duncan, and Susan Quinn
- Attended a workshop on the Giordano jazz technique under Joh Lehrer and Nan Giordano
- Headed the dance committee for the Bravo Filipino performance series through Steps Dance Project
LIESL LAFORTEZAResident Teacher - Jazz | Classical Ballet
- Began studying ballet at the age of five under Lydia Gaston (in Bacolod City)
- Continued ballet studies, as scholar of Ballet Philippines with Gener Caringal, William Morgan, Denise Reyes, Agnes Locsin, Armin Wild, and Noordin Jumalon
- Studied jazz under Cecilia Marta (American Dance Center), Phil Black (New York), Bill Prudich (former Tremain Dance Studio), Daniel Tinazzi (Steps on Broadway), and Russell Falen (Hochschule Fur Musik Und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt, Germany)
- Was one of the founding members of Powerdance where she was one of the five artists who performed the winning entry of Douglas Nierras at the 10th Saitama International Creative Dance Contest in 1999
- Has performed in various Repertory Philippines and Trumpets production (as Patty in Grease and Maggi in A Chorus Line)
- Choreographed Man of La Mancha, The Wizard of Oz, and Celebration III for Repertory; the Tango series of the Clarion Chamber of Music Ensemble; and Menopause: The Musical and We're still Hot for Bahaghari Productions
- Represented Steps Dance Studio at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, USA in 2005 and 2007, where she trained with master teachers Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Liz Imperio, Randy Duncan, and Susan Quinn
- Attended a workshop on the Giordano jazz technique under Jon Lehrer and Nan Giordano
- In November 2009, she started teaching ballet of the Pre-primary and Primary levels
XERNAN ALFONSOTeacher - Street Dance
- Attended training in street dance under Jerome Dimalanta in the UP Streetdance Club
- Took classes at the Millennium Studio Dance Workshops in Los Angeles, California under Shane Sparks and David Moore in 2006
- Has been deeply involved in several dance clubs and groups as choreographer, coach, or instructor such as the UP Streetdance Club, Ateneo High School INDAK, and many others
- Performances and choreographic works have been seen in UP Streetdance Club concerts, The Crew Street Fuzion Concert in Leyte, the competition pieces of UP STREET for Sketchers 1, 2, 3, where they won as champions of the contest, among many others
- Has received many awards in streetdance competitions: 1st place in the Skechers Street Dance Battle III Elims in 2007, 1st place in the Dancelebration at Dela Salle University in 2006, finalist at the World Hiphop Championships in Los Angeles, California in 2006, and many more
DIANA GAGELONIATeacher - Street Dance
- Graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Fine Arts
- Has been teaching in Steps since 2005
- Has been a member of the UP Streetdance Club since 2001
- Has competed with the UP Streetdance Club for the past five years
- Represented the country in the 2006 World Hiphop Championships
- Teaches art at the Hope Christian High School in Manila
GARY GARCIAResident Pianist
- Graduated from the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas under Dean Erlinda Fule
- Finalist in the Agoncillo Competition and winner of the UST Symphony Orchestra Concerto auditions
- Was awarded the Montesa Prize (prize given to students with the highest grade point average in piano exams for the year)
- Served in the faculty of the UST-Conservatory of Music
- Received a scholarship from the Loyola International Exchange Fund and the Elizabeth University of Music in Japan where he studied under Prof. Shoji Ishikawa
- Has performed as soloist, assisting artist, or chambering musician in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea
- Was a featured soloist of the UST Symphony
- Gave solo recitals here and abroad
- Has served a s a resident company pianist of Ballet Philippines since 2008