Tony Fabella

Antonio Limuaco "Tony" Fabella (March 20, 1941 – June 4, 2009) was a Filipino choreographer who was considered an institution in the Philippine dance circuit. The dance pieces Fabella choreographed included “Dancing to Czerny,” “Dancing to Verdi”, “Sayaw Pinoy,” and “Dalagang Pilipina.” [1] [2]

“Tony Fabella is one of the country’s most talented and most prolific choreographers,” notes Ballet Manila artistic director and prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, adding “He has given many choreographic gems to Ballet Manila and to me, personally, as gifts of his wonderful talent, without asking for remuneration for such beautiful and intricate works that always delight the audience.”[2]

Biography

Antonio Limuaco Fabella was born on March 20, 1941 to spouses Ricardo Fabella and Luz Limuaco in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Ricardo, being the Principal of Pagsanjan Academy, instilled in Tony the value of hardwork and diligence. Tony Fabella was a consistent honor student in Pagsanjan, Laguna.

In 1965, Tony Fabella graduated with a degree in B.S. Chemical Engineering from the Mapua Institute of Technology and immediately took and passed the Government Board Examinations for Chemical Engineers. Instead of pursuing a career as a Chemical Engineer, he chose to become a dancer.

He first trained in folk dancing under Laucrecia Reyes Urtula and Libertad Fajardo, then in modern dance under Alice Reyes, Norman Walker, Pauline Koner and Takako Asakawa. His knowledge of classical ballet evolved through lessons with Eddie Elejar, Joji Felix Velarde, Nina Vyroubova, Natalia Mirskaya, Elvira Rone, Miro Zolan, Alfred Rodriguez, Ian Stripling and Garth Welch.

Tony Fabella danced professionally in ballet with Dance Theater Philippines and took the leading role in Mir-i-nisa (1969), during the inaugural season of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was a charter member, manager, and resident choreographer of the Alice Reyes and Modern Dance Company (1970), which became the CCP Dance Company, and later, Ballet Philippines.

In the year 1970, Antonio Limuaco Fabella retired from dancing and ventured into choreography. Among his major choreographies were those done for the Folk Arts Theater, Dance Theater Philippines, Manila Metropolis Ballet, Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theater and Ballet Manila.

He has taught dance in many schools and directed many productions all over Metro Manila from studio set-ups to college and university courses.

Affiliations

Fabella was also a board member of the Manila Dance Foundation, an honorary member of the Association of Ballet Academies, Philippines (ABAP)and president of the Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, established to manage the Quezon City government's Performing Arts Development Program. Fabella was among the country's three most distinguished dance professionals who in 1994 helped put up that program in order to seek out gifted and artistically inclined children from among the city's marginalized sectors, and provide them with free training in the performing arts.[3]

Awards

Among many other accolades, Fabella received the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila in 1984 and the National Commission on Culture and Arts’ 2003 Alab ng Haraya Award.[1]

Illness and fund-raising efforts

In 2007, Fabella was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent radiation therapy to combat the disease while still on its early stages.

On February 7, 2008, Ballet Manila undertook a benefit performance for Fabella, called “Ballet Manila Dances Fabella”, at the Star Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, featuring some of the choreographer's most popular works. The media noted the event as "a meaningful tribute to a passionate and indefatigable Filipino artist no balletomane should miss."[1]

Various fund-raising events which were spearheaded by the Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. (QCPADFI) and the Association of Ballet Academies Philippines (ABAP) were launched to further assist in his treatment.

He underwent three chemo-therapy cycles but the cancer had spread to his kidneys. Fabella succumbed to multiple organ failure at 9:30am on June 4, 2009.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dancing for Fabella". Manila Times. January 28, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Lanuza, Juan Antonio (February 6, 2008). "Benefit concert for Tony Fabella". BusinessWorld.
  3. ↑ "Foundation History". Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation Website. Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
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