AT A GLANCE
Georcelle formed G-Force 19 years ago. When it was created, it only consisted of female dancers. A month later, the male members came in.
Georcelle Dapat Sy, the mastermind behind G Force, the Philippines' leading dance group, has revolutionized the country's dance industry.
Today, the dance landscape has undergone a profound transformation. Georcelle's transformative influence has shifted the perception of dancers from mere backups to recognized artists. This significant shift has not only elevated the status of dancers but also opened doors to endorsements and industry recognition.
During a recent lunch in Quezon City, Teacher Georcelle, as she is fondly called, said her journey on the dance floor was not easy. When she was 11, her mom encouraged her to study ballet. Then she remembered the only time she was booed on stage in Tondo, Manila.
"I was about to dance 'Swan Lake' on stage. Mga five seconds palang, parang gumapang na yung init ng dugo nila. Bi-noo nila ako. Ang sakit noon. Naka-tutu ako sa fiesta ng Tondo. Feeling ko maling platform yun sa akin," said the laughing Georcelle. She wasn't traumatized by the incident. Instead, it gave her strength and confidence to dance more.
Georcelle believes she got her dance moves from her father, a former journalist at the Manila Bulletin and a dance instructor. "He was into ballroom dancing. Before, they called it social dancing: boogie, tango, cha-cha. He also played the piano."
She couldn't remember when her love for dancing began. "Every time there's music, I dance. But I started my formal training in dance when I was eight years old. Before that, I went to my neighbors and danced using the cassette player. I remember dancing to 'Street Beat' by Toni Basil. When my mom saw that, she enrolled me in WYCA. When I reached 10, tumuloy na sa ballet, jazz, Hawaiian, tap dance. Three to four years of ballet only."My ballet instructor trained Liza Macuja."
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"My dad wanted me to become a ballerina, but I'm a big fan of pop culture. I like Madonna — I'm a Madonna baby. I was so attracted to Madonna then, but not Michael Jackson. I love their work, and I was drawn to Madonna.
"Then I went to the Cultural Center of the Philippines because I was told meron jazz doon. I had a classmate there who became my best friend. I was told to audition for the Adrenalin for the Sharon Cuneta Show. Erik Edralin, the founder of Adrenalin, gave me a break at 16. I was given a break to choreograph.
"At 18, I was handling big shows and directors relied on me. Sobrang gusto ko yung ginagawa ko at tuloy-tuloy lang talaga yung ginagawa ko. Wala pa yung bilangan ng oras. Tigilan nga ako ng iba. Joke lang! Maybe because I have dedicated myself to dancing. I have dedicated all my life to dancing. My life is dancing and supporting dance artists who surrendered themselves to the craft," said Georcelle.
In 2008, Georcelle was launched as the face of dance in the Philippines, proudly known as “Teacher Georcelle," when she spearheaded a dance segment in a top musical variety show ASAP. This paved the way for me to be part of shows on ABS-CBN, such as Pinoy Big Brother House, Your Face Sounds Familiar, and Dance Kids.
Georcelle is married to her best friend and dance partner, who is now in charge of G-Force's business. "We have three lovely children who also show an interest in dance."
Teacher Georcelle's G-Force
Georcelle formed G-Force 19 years ago. When it was created, it only consisted of female dancers. A month later, the male members came in.
"Now that I already have a group of my own, my experience inquisitively attracted me to like life out of the limelight as a stage director. With directors believing in my capability and eventually giving me a great deal of trust, it became easy for me to slip into a director’s chair," she said.
Georcelle invited dance enthusiasts to experience the rhythm and high-energy atmosphere of G-Force Dance Studio.
"Filipinos are visual learners. But the beauty of coming to our class is that you will be able to understand how each movement is done. Saan ba siya nanggagaling? Sa elbow or shoulders? Sa wrist or sa fingers? Where do you get the strength or power? Those things.
"Second, you come to our class and enter our room full of energy and shared experiences and movements. Kapag pumasok ka, kasabay mo ang G-Force members na sumasayaw.
"At ang power ng music, kapag lumabas na sa speakers, susuntukin na yung emotions mo. You will not get that inside your room. You can't get that by just watching. To be able to join that room full of youthfulness and energy, you will not do that by just watching YouTube. To be able to participate in a conversation on how movements are done, you will not get that on YouTube," Georcelle said.
G-Force is preparing to take on the world with unparalleled energy, creativity, and passion. They are all set to spread their magic worldwide and make their mark on the world stage with their groove-ready performance.
"We're preparing our company to be a future-ready workplace. So, do we embrace AI? We don't push it away. We're part of a team that is curious about it. We also want to learn more about it and how to use it for G-Force.
"When G-Force started, it had to have the touch of your name. But now, G is a generation of force. Sila ang humaharap sa new technology ngayon. So saan ang ayaw na meron na ngayong AI?
"Because of our presence in the Middle East, there are now many requests for our global presence. In August, we will be in Canada to do G-Force projects. So again, the G is about something other than Georcelle. It's all about being global.
"G evolves. And G, over time, nagkakaroon ng maraming meaning. It's there already. We've been in the Middle East for three years. The response is very nice. We're going back in November. But before November, nasa Canada na kami sa August," she said.
G-Force Project
The G-Force Project welcomes all ages, with classes for kids, teens, and adults in Hip-hop, Dancehall, Sexy Class, Contemporary, K-pop, and OPM.
Not only do students get to share their love of dance, but they also meet new friends, build confidence, and enjoy themselves.
The students are in good hands. G-Force’s celebrity choreographers will teach them more than dance, honing the next generation of aspiring performers and creating a new breed of G-generational force.
“G-Force is more than just dance! It’s about character-building and self-discovery. You come to our classes looking for that sense of belonging and come out having that sense of becoming," said Georcelle.
G-Force Project has taught students the importance of discipline, teamwork, camaraderie, grit, and resilience. Some students return to the open classes G-Force conducts at their dance centers in Quezon City, Alabang, and BGC branches. It gathers all its students for a culminating future-ready dance performance at The Theater at Solaire on July 7.
Georcelle also announced the 10th-anniversary celebration of White Shirt Love, a revolutionary dance fitness class that has been creating quite a stir in the dance industry with its unique proposition to women—getting fit while awakening one’s femininity, getting empowered, and gaining love for oneself.
Dance is a career. However, not all places understand or accept it, she said.
"My dream is for society to fully accept that dance is equally essential as the other careers. Marami akong kilalang dance artists na hindi ina-accept ng parents dahil dancer lang sila. Imagine something na work na mahal na mahal mo and that's good for mental health.
"Ang daming nagwo-work pero hindi nila gusto yung work nya. Sabi nila hindi career ang dancing. Hindi ka mabubuhay d'yan. Humanap ka ng ibang trabaho. We can make a difference. Ngayon pa lang laman ng dancers ang TikTok. Aren't we making a difference already?" Georcelle asked.
