Frankly Speaking

Over the recent weekend, Ayala Center Cebu has once again lived up to its promise of making culture and arts accessible to their many shoppers. Staged at the Activity Center, "Frankly Speaking" was a unique jazz musical that needed to be felt. Featuring the songs of music icon Frank Sinatra, the hour-long event showcased a whole lot of dancing and some singing by no less than a local superstar.

Served with champagne and a few other cocktails, guests were treated with delightful performances you don't usually witness even in everyday entertainment. Graced by exceptional dancers from the STEPS dance project, it was beautiful to see young and creative talents so dedicated to the intricate art exclusive only to the jazz genre.

The choreography, as expected, was on point, sharp, and expressive, but their charisma was on an entirely different level. The show began with only two pairs dancing at first then progressed into them dancing in groups. One of the highlights of the event was undeniably Omar Edwards, an international tap-dance artist who is based in New York.

Wearing an all-white get-up and towering at least 6-feet tall, he captivated the audience by his prolific twist on tap-dancing itself. Dancing to the beat of Pharell's popular smash hit "Happy," he owned the stage just as he was destined to. But it was his performance that began with him tapping to the tune of Queen's "Bite the dust" that left the audience speechless.


Kapamilya star Xian Lim, whom Edwards also did a performance with, also left the audience wanting for more. Although clearly not a jazz crooner, it was Lim who added mass appeal to an event so selective for appreciation.


What perfected an already promising musical was the show's production design and flawless musical scoring. As if channeling another cold night at Manhattan New York, the stage set-up looked beautiful in itself. The lighting was spectacular and the timing of everything else thinkable in production was great!

Indeed, Frankly Speaking was a breath of fresh air, not just because of how cohesive everything turned out, but because of the novelty of it all. In a generation that celebrates the dominance of pop and hip-hop, it was exciting to see a group of dedicated artists who wanted to rekindle the revelry and the elegance that can only be found within the realm of jazz.

If anything, the passionate lover of the arts is sure to agree that the musical was a 10/10.


Bjorn Tabanera
Contributor - Lifestyle