Dance / Fortuna, Sugar Kaye Grefaldeo. At Courtyard Studio, October 18. Reviewed by SAMARA PURNELL.

Sugar Kaye Grefaldeo’s dance journey began in Manila, at the suggestion of her teacher Raffy Fortuna. She credits this encouragement, this suggestion to pursue dance, as life changing. 

In Manila (she was born in the slum area she explains), performances open with politicians, but before long she’s busting out a karaoke-sounding song, with flashing pink lights.

The set is a modest dining table, an analogue TV, a painting reminiscent of The Last Supper, a bingo scorecard, amongst other objects.

Sugar’s traditional dance begins with eyes cast down, the head is still and the movement is through the arms, hips and feet.

She takes a seat at the table, executing distressed movements, with the clatter of a household around her.

The analogue TV plays clips from game shows made into educational trivia on the Philippines.

This production, Fortuna, is the personal story of Sugar told through various examples of luck and fortune and using a fusion of Filipino folk dance and hip-hop. Sugar’s movements are big, expressive, circular, with strong isolations.

The performance includes indigenous dances Banga (a pot), where women demonstrate strength and grace by balancing these pots on their heads as they go out to fetch water.

Janggay is a bird dance that uses the metal fingernail extensions. This was particularly striking as it told the story of the dragon and moon game and was danced by Sugar in a gold skirt.

Drinking glasses are balanced on women’s heads and hands as they spin and roll on the ground, in festive dances and at weddings. Binasuan was performed smoothly by Sugar, not spilling a drop.

A popular folk dance with bamboo sticks and a street festival dance were performed. A masked dance with a performer in full costume was especially striking.

For some of the routines Sugar was joined by three other dancers, the other message she wants to get across is the importance of mentorship and the continuation of dance (as tradition and inspiration).

There is an entertaining hip-hop interpretation of a traditional dance to Wake Me Up Before You Go and the visa process to come and stay in Australia was turned into a game-show, incorrect buzzer included.

Between game shows and dances, Sugar talks to the audience, asking about star signs, dating apps, work and luck (there is a raffle ticket given upon entry to the theatre to demonstrate the point). She shares that her AFAM (A foreigner assigned in Manila) has worked out well for her.

The emotion is still raw for Sugar  but  although she depicts and speaks of a tough childhood, poverty, negativity towards her ambitions and uncertainty, Sugar is funny and quick. Fortuna is ultimately a joyous and humorous show.

The finale had everyone singing Dancing Queen on karaoke and waiting for the all important score – 94!

If the young girl in the front row, wearing a satin dress and a tiara, who had a ball copying the dance moves is anything to go by, the inspiration to dance and be mentored is already taking hold.