Choreography in Focus: In the Red Corner by Rudy De Dios
In the Red Corner is set to 2Cellos’ instrumental version of Eye of the Tiger, the iconic music identified with the Rocky boxing films.
Rudy De Dios considers himself a boxing fan. During Rudy’s younger years, his father – a sports enthusiast who was into jogging, biking and weights – even encouraged him and a friend to try sparring, complete with boxing gloves. Though that went nowhere, Rudy laughs, as he was more inclined to the arts and later pursued a dancing career, he keenly followed big bouts in the ring as he was growing up and counts the likes of Mike Tyson among his favorite fighters.
When an opportunity came for Rudy to choreograph a piece for the CCP Ballet Competition in 2018, the former Ballet Manila principal dancer had a eureka moment. Why not combine ballet and boxing, two things that interest him the most?
Dancing and boxing combine in Rudy De Dios’ In the Red Corner, the modern piece performed by Jefferson Balute in the 2018 CCP Ballet Competition. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
The result was In the Red Corner, a two-minute choreography danced by Ballet Manila’s Jefferson Balute to an instrumental version of Eye of the Tiger, the popular theme song of the Rocky film series. The title Rudy used refers to the frequent announcement when two boxers about to face off in the ring are introduced.
The inspiration for the choreography was actually Jefferson himself, Rudy says. “I see a fighter inside him. Not just because of his muscular physique. He's one of the people that has been close to me when I was still with BM. Kahit galing siya sa isang mahirap na pamilya, di ‘yun naging hadlang para magpatuloy sa buhay.” (Even though he comes from a poor family, that didn’t become an obstacle to persisting in life.)
Rudy describes Jefferson as hardworking, obedient and humble. “Just like a fighter or a boxer, grabe ang training at hardships na mga pagdadaanan just for one goal – to win and overcome your opponent which symbolizes struggles and challenges,” he explains.
In the Red Corner expectedly features some forceful movements, echoing a boxer’s routine and the punches he throws at his opponent, but it also highlights persistence as he is knocked down but recovers and stands up. “Yes, it’s aggressive on the outside but it’s also very calm in the inside,” Rudy points out. “Kumbaga, parang Muhammad Ali din: ‘Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee.’”
Jefferson Balute personifies athleticism and grace as he takes on a boxing-themed choreography. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
For the music, Rudy found the perfect accompaniment to his choreography – Eye of the Tiger as played by 2Cellos, a Croation cellist duo composed of classically trained cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. The instrumental arrangement provided that touch of suspense of excitement just as the original track did for Rocky.
Wearing red shorts, Jefferson personified athleticism and grace onstage, with punches and footwork interspersed with a jeté and other dance movements. For Rudy, it’s not a stretch that boxing and ballet are combined in In the Red Corner. “Feeling ko naman po lahat ng sports halos may pagkakatulad din sa ballet. Dadaan ka sa hours ng classes, training, competitions, etc. Nakakaranas ng injuries, mental challenges, like an athlete.” (I feel that all kinds of sports are quite similar to ballet. You go through hours of classes, training, competitions, etc. Then you experience injuries, mental challenges, like an athlete.”)
