About Us

Formation of PPDSA

Filipino Dance Instructors traveled to Australia in search of direction and education in dance. Enjoying success,
winning several Australian National Amateur Grade Titles under the training of Mr. Stanley Alexander,
discussions followed leading to the idea of forming an association to deliver quality dance education to the
masses in the Philippines.

Patron, former First Lady Mrs. Imelda Marcos gave rise to the name PPDSA by saying “it needs to include
the word Philippine to show our organization is national, the word Professional to show that our
organization is in contrast to the other”, it is involved heavily in dance education as well as the sport, hence the name Philippine Professional Dance Sport Association.

The PPDSA was the first organization to professionalize ballroom dancing in the Philippines by conducting
the first Dance Sport Teacher Training Programs commenced in Feb 2000 culminating in Examination and
Certification in September 2000 at Harmony Dance Palace Greenhills Manila. The first
PPDSA Board was then selected from among those successful certified dance teachers.

PPDSA Vision and Mission

Our Vision - Placing the Philippines on the World Stage of Dance & Dance Sport by producing World Class
Teachers, Coaches, Adjudicators, Scrutineers & Competitors of Dance & Dance Sport & to eventually become
the Peak Body for all Dance & Dance Sport Education in the Philippines.

Our Mission - Continuously provide theoretic, strategic & practical training for teachers, coaches,
adjudicators, scrutineers & competitors through regular seminars, workshops & courses through Dance
Sport Clubs, Academies, Studios, Schools, Colleges, Universities, etc. & to make this training affordable & to
be available to the masses.

Professionalism

Definition of Professionalism within all spheres of dance sport: a belief, assertion, aspiration, certification
and / or public claim to knowledge. Our calling or occupation in a learned, scientific and artistic manner;
moral and ethical teachers, tutors, technicians and professors of Dance and Dance Sport with integrity of
the highest rank towards education, research and development of knowledge and professionalism
amongst its members.

PPDSA Achievements

PPDSA were instrumental in commencing the training of the 1st batch dance teachers at Harmony Palace
Greenhills in February 2000 culminating in certification through examination on September 2nd 2000.

This approach no doubt assisted in the successes of early Filipino competitors such as the 1st Filipino
International Professional Competitors Alberto Dimarucut & Deborah Civardi, whom participated in
the 1999 ADS Australian Championships, placing 7th in Professional Rising Star Latin. Albert & Deborah
went on to be the first Filipino Professional Champions abroad winning:

2000 Crown International “Closed Asia” Professional Latin
2000 Crown Professional Show Dance
2000 GDC World Open Ballroom Tournament in Professional Rising Star Latin
2001 ACODO Austral-Asian Professional Cabaret in Brisbane Australia.
2002 Australian National Championship - Professional Show Dance at Sydney Australia.

Albert and Deborah also were the first official Philippine Professional representatives in the October 2000
Asia Pacific Professional Dance Sport Championships in Professional Latin at Singapore and again in 2001
& 2002. They represented Philippines placing 128th in the 2001 Blackpool Festival Open British and later
placed 45th in the 2001 Blackpool WDDSC World Professional Latin American Championship.

With ongoing political situation in the Philippines, Albert and Deborah under advice of WDDSC President
Karl Breuer to "Go dance for Indonesia" decided to attempt to gain representation for Australia by
participating in the October 2002 official selection event in Sydney Australia. They were successful in the
Lord Mayor of Sydney Professional Superbowl Challenge and went on to representing Australia in the 2003
World Imperial Professional Latin, placing top 24, and in placing top 16 2003 WDC World South American
Show Dance Championship.

Another great competitor for the Philippines was Gifford Gavieres who won numerous Amateur Grade
events in Australia in Ballroom and Latin categories with his Australian partner Shauna Dark, pictured
above in leopard print outfit. Some of these events included ADS Australian, ACODO Austral-Asian, Crown
International with SATD & FATD events from 1998 - 2000. Gifford brought his Australian partner to Manila
in May 2000 to prepare for the DSCP July competition he had been invited to participate.

Gifford & Shauna so strongly intimidated the Philippine dance sport community that in July 2000 the
administrators made last minute changes in their competition "Entry Rules" days before the competition
event, making Gifford & Shauna ineligible with unjust "Rule Changes" at last minute and in a racial
slur that should never have been tolerated, although releiving local competitors fearing their
presence. The DSCP even resorted to taking a deportation action against this 16yrs old Australian girl
through the Bureau Immigration, and although not successful was certainly a leading factor to Gifford's
partner Shauna breaking their partnership and deciding to return to Australia.

Gifford then partnered with Analibeth Coloma in 2001 to be the first Filipino entry into a WDDSC World
Championship. Gifford and Ana had an amazingly short preparation of five weeks for this huge assignment,
placing 34th in the 2001 WDDSC World Professional Ten Dance Championships held in Hong Kong.

Gifford continues to dance, albeit only a shadow to his potential due to loss of passion through the ongoing
political interventions by "Mad Manila despotic grandma matrons" attempting to control what had nothing to
do with them; that being the administration of professional dance sport and where these matrons have no
background whatsoever to support such whimsical aspirations; and this sadly is what has caused many
Filipino dancers undue pressure & concern to their livelihood, and certainly was a factor to the ruination of
Gifford's aspirations, a most talented dancer not allowed to develop his potential in his professional career.

PPDSA Ballroom stars Robert Limen Jr and wife Nadjah have had a good start to their competitive career
with success in the 2001 Crown International held in Melbourne Australia, followed through with a top class Final
in the 2002 Hong Kong International featuring Massimo Giorgianni - Alessia Manfredini. Robert and Nadjah have just made a return to the comp floor and have participated in 2008 Thailand International, making the final, thus showing great promise for Philippines in the Ballroom division.

PPDSA are also represented by Dennis Valiente & Manet Cortes, 2006/7 Official entries to Asian Pacific in
Ballroom Division.

PPDSA produced the 1st official Filipino entry, Michael Bautista and Judith Ahat into the 2004 WDDSC
World Amateur Ballroom Championship, held in Hong Kong, placing top 24.

PPDSA produced another great achievement for Philippine dancing when Reggie Perico & Rhea Muana,
became only the second Filipino pair to win a professional title abroad, the 2004 GDC World Open Ballroom
Tournament in Professional Open Latin American at Taipei Taiwan. Reggie & Rhea had strung a number of
placings together in Professional Latin events around the Asian circuit leading up to their Taiwan
assignment where they peaked to dominate the GDC World Open event on the day.

PPDSA pair Michael Badong and Rhea Muana also joined an elite group of Filipino competitors that have
won Professional titles abroad, when taking honors at 2007 Singapore International in Professional Open
Show Dance. Michael and Rhea have been 2006/7 Official representatives to the Asian Pacific Latin
Championship placing 12th and 7th in their two attempts for Philippines.

Another pairing for Philippines that have joined our elite circle of Champions abroad, Reggie Perico and Sofia Sangco in taking the 2008 GDC World Open Ballroom Tournament - Professional Rising Star Latin event title; plus they have been 1st runner up in 2008 GDC World Open Ballroom Tournament - Professional Open Latin; then were also 1st runner up in 2006 Taiwan International. Reggie & Sofia have been 2006/7 Official representatives to the Asian Pacific Latin Champiomship.

PPDSA have been instrumental in developing alliances for the education of Filipino dancers and in opening
democratic processes in the Philippines through:

Being elected as National Affiliate AATD in September 2000.
Being elected National member IDO in June 2001.
Being endorsed by DepEd and CHEd since 2004 for National Training of Teachers in Dance Sport
leading to entry to the Palarong Pambansa (National Games)
Being a foundation member of the Philippine Dance Council (National Dance Teachers Council) that
was contracted as the new WDC (World Dance Council, formerly WD&DSC) member effective
September 23rd 2006 to replace the suspended and replaced member. read more

PPDSA Affiliation

PPDSA signed an affiliation agreement with AATD (Austral-Asian Arts Theater Dance) on September 4th 2000.
Part of the terms of affiliation is for AATD to provide technical assistance, with affordable dance teacher
certifications through examination for the Philippines.

This affiliation will give PPDSA the required expertise to conduct dance teacher training programs, allowing
quality yet affordable dance education for the masses.

PPDSA Chairman Stanley Alexander was assigned by AATD to lead the PPDSA to achieve its short term goals
and appointed as AATD Examiner in South East Asia on 22nd December 2002.

Mr. Alexander has undoubtedly given great service to the Filipino as the above efforts portray.

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