Joelle Jacinto
I once applied for a job and the boss interviewing me asked, "So when did you start writing?" I fumbled with my reply, really horribly. I said, "I started writing in grade school. Then I wrote more in high school." Before I could say that I also wrote in college, I was laughing hysterically and pretty sure I blew it. But the next day, I got the callback and later found out that even though I bombed the interview, my eventual boss loved my writing and decided to give me a chance.
The thing is, I can't really remember when I started writing, or being interested in writing, or writing well in the manner of people who make writing their profession. I remember I've always wanted to write a great story, even as a little kid. I was in the school paper, I perennially had a journal, I made zines in college because it was the era before blogging was invented. I was also in a literary org and imagined I wanted to write fiction. These days, I don't think about fiction anymore, because real life is so much more exciting.
For the past seven years, I've been writing dance reviews for Malaya, the National Broadsheet, which is based in Manila, Philippines, where I live, too. Dance scholarship is my main passion; I graduated with a Master's degree in Art Theory and Criticism, writing my thesis on ballet companies in the Philippines and working towards its publication. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Philippine Studies, hoping to concentrate on Philippine dance again. I also teach Dance studies at the college level.
The reason why I started so late in the game was I was also dancing, during this time. I went through a phase where I felt I couldn't write about dance while participating in the scene. Still, the "participant-observer" stance has helped enhance my writing, for which I'm grateful.
The job that I applied for, that I was telling you about earlier, was for a writing position at a music website. Since then, I've written for two music websites, mostly album reviews, artist interviews and event coverage. I can write about other topics aside from dance and music; I also like to write travel articles. A lot of my travel articles will be about the Philippines, but can you blame me? I think I'm a very good authority on my country and traveling all over on tours with my ballet company has given me a lot to share with anyone who's interested. I will also write about other parts of Asia as well, and I hope you enjoy those, too.
If there's anything you want to know about particularly, feel free to ask. Cheers!
Latest Articles
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Myra Beltran's Portrait of a Wallflower
She began with Le Grand Tango, but it was a non-celebrational solo that captured the essence of the choreographer's ten years.
Aug 21, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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A Bustling Philippine Contemporary Dance Scene
Independent dance artists in the Philippines can make a sizable ripple in a humongous pond, but perhaps it is more important to keep the smaller ripples going, too.
Aug 21, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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Experience Malaysia in Malacca
Malacca has all the charms of Kuala Lumpur but at a much slower, more relaxed pace. So, if a restful Asian vacation is what you dream of, Malacca would be a great option.
Aug 21, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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Tips and Techniques for a Better Pirouette
Basic pirouette techniques that will guarantee faster, complete, multiple turns.
Aug 3, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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The 3 Major Ballet Companies in the Philippines
Ballet is an established art form in the Philippines, with three ballet companies to prove it.
Jul 30, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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Site-Specific Dance and New Performance Spaces
Creativity was not the only lesson gained from site specific dance improvisation. It trains the dancer to be able to perform anywhere they can, not just in the theater.
Jul 23, 2008
- Joelle Jacinto
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