Cebu 'Fire Attraction' hailed 14th Talentado Hall of Famers

CEBU, Philippines - Extreme visual impact created by male dancers, who are attracted to the blazing art of fire dancing, won the approval of four talent scouts and members of a jury, thus making “Fire Attraction” the first Cebuano talents to “raze their way” to becoming the 14th Talentadong Pinoy Hall of Famers. 

Seamless fiery routines, sizzling hot masculine techniques in swinging the fire poi (up to as many as four fireballs dangling from a single string [omg!]), matched by the equally burning charm of the poi twirlers communicating the language of fire dancing through searing weaves and butterflies, and topped with the explosive audio of perfectly mixed songs---these are the spicy ingredients to Fire Attraction’s latest feat.

The taping took place on Dec. 9 at SM Mall of Asia’s Skydome, but was aired in time for Talentadong Pinoy’s red-hot Christmas Day episode which appeared as though the victory came as a holiday present not only for poi aficionados but, foremost, for us Cebuanos.

Sight of flames flying around someone as he dances is a real crowd pleaser, more so when fire dancers are women because of their impact (the wow factor) upon people. “However, para sa lalaki, we mainly banked on technique. Kay if mosunod mi sa feminine style nga mogiling-giling, mora tag bayot ana,” explained Zero Nuñez with a laugh in a recent phone interview.

Zero is the founding member and choreographer of Fire Attraction whose members are from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Toledo, and the towns of San Fernando and Tabogon.

However, they chose to represent “Barangay Lahug” as its point of origin having been alumni of a school there. “Gidala lang namo ang Lahug kay didto man god mi halos nag-elementary. Lingaw man sad god barangaya,” Zero explained.

The rest of the members are Ralph Abella (Civil Engineering, University of Cebu), Rex Diaz (AB Psychology-UC), and Abel Nuñez (AB English, UC). Zero is a Bachelor in Secondary Education graduate major in Physical Education of the University of the Visayas. The other members Rolando Dungog and Victor Kim Taping serve as in-charge of other concerns like props, safety and music. They were once dance troupe members and are considered veterans in dance competitions.

They are set for a gut-down in March via the Battle of Champions (Second Batch of Talentados) wherein they are to wrestle for the scorching title of being “Ultimate Talentadong Pinoy”. Preparations include ordering materials from New Zealand, using their prize money amounting to P500,000.

“As expected, we divided the prize among ourselves. But we also set aside an amount to purchase the latest poi products. Salamat ka-afford na mi karon mag-order og imported props,” Zero said.

Being the home of poi culture, New Zealand boasts of a variety of products that Fire Attraction could utilize in showcasing further their craft. Like the rest of performing artists, they can only be limited by their imagination.

“We would make sure that we come up with, as always, the best in every performance. So practice pa lang, ang attitude is mora na kag ni-compete sa championship battle. Para pag-abot sa real competition, i-enjoy na lang namo ang show,” Zero shared.

“It has been suggested in Facebook fan pages that we agree to a, sort of, showdown with the female fire dancers who came before us, but dili mi ganahan ana because there is really nothing to prove pa. Those girls aren’t Talentado Hall of Famers (First Batch) for nothing,” he stressed.

“The real person we have to beat in March is our very own selves. Dili laing tawo,” he further said, citing the influences of theater artist Daisy Ba-ad, Sinulog choreographer Victor Cuenco, former Team Fire Attraction manager Nelifer Orbis, Cebu’s premiere director Junjet Primor, and manager/choreographer Vinancio Esparaguera, Jr. on how they view and treat every competition.

“Dugay sad among work relationship with these people that we look up to them as influential in how we have been treating, promoting, and enhancing our craft. They mentored us never to think about the competition. Ang self maoy angay pildihon,” he further shared.

When asked on the benefits of being Hall of Famers, Zero mentioned of a haggle-free compensation deal. “There’s an immediate raise in talent fee. He he! We used to perform for Convergy’s parties. Within Cebu we received around P10,000. However, after our point person learned of our recent achievement, she said the company is willing to shell out P25,000 for our appearance in their summer party,” this he disclosed aside from school invitational shows like the recent UC Breakout Dance Concert. (FREEMAN)