Meet 6x9 dancer: Ladislao 'June' Arellano Jr

June performing with Parangal Dance Company

Where were you born?
Bagac, Bataan, Philippines

What is your favorite food?Dinengdeng/Bulanglang - I love all the veggies in it. Reminds me of my childhood particularly during Rainy Season. My father would bring all the veggies from our small farm and my mom always has bagoong which is the main ingredient/spice for it. Soup kept me warm.

Tell us about your character, Jesus Getpala.
Hess grew up with a very strict Catholic mom who used religion to instill guilt about his homosexuality as a work of evil. I was raised by Catholic parents and a military father. However my difference with Hess is that my parents are open and they let me be. It is a total opposite of his experience. I struggled with religion and my sexuality. I also know people who struggle between family, religion and their sexuality. I draw from my own experiences and from my friends who experienced the struggle. I also relate it to my personal struggles at work, family, and life as a whole. Being incarcerated doesn’t have to be in a real life. It can about being imprisoned at a moment in your life - bad relationship, a job that you don’t like or a family or personal crisis.

Describe your most memorable moment as a dancer.
Every performance is memorable, but there are two performances that stood out for me. First one was with "She Who Can See". While dancing on stage, I felt this strange energy that was pulling me out. As I resisted it, the more it messed my movement. Then I talked to it and asked it to dance with me. I felt warmth and a sort of euphoric feeling; it was awesome. Second is when Parangal performed in Merrie Monarch in Big island. There was something in that stage that put me in my characters in all my dances. The people also was awesome.

KulartsApril 2, 2018