Sugar Kaye Sañejo Grefaldeo’s Fortūna

In the Philippines people often say kung ano ang itinanim, siya’ng aanihin, what you reap is what you sow. But does it really matter what we do or is it all just a matter of good fortune?

Fortūna is a dynamic solo dance/theatre work that explores themes of luck, wealth and fortune through a fusion of Filipino folk dance and Hip-Hop, enriched with spoken word and audience interaction. It follows the real-life journey of dancer and choreographer Sugar Kaye Sañejo Grefaldeo, from her early dance experiences in Manila to her current role as a mentor and community leader. It seeks to question the idea of ‘fortune’ and the struggle to communicate the value of dance to family and society.

Sugar’s dance journey began after a teacher from her school, ‘Raffy Fortuna’, saw her playing sport, invited her to join the school’s dance troupe and changed the course of her life. Over time, ‘Raffy’ became a key mentor, keeping her focused in life circumstances that were challenging at best. The work explores the relationship of student and mentor, particularly in the dance community, the passing of knowledge and the cycle of giving back to mentors and community.

Developed in collaboration with Erika Jayne Goldsmith and Richu John Kung as part of the Canberra Theatre Centre’s New Works Program, this performance will be the global premiere of Fortūna.

Tickets here: https://bemac.org.au/event/sugar-kaye-sanejo-grefaldeos-fortuna/