“To Make Dark Heaven Light:” Transcending the Tragic in Sintang Dalisay

Directed by Ricardo Abad and choreographed Matthew Santamaria, Sintang Dalisay—a Filipino adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet—is often lauded for its use the igal ethnic dance Sama-Badjau, a Muslim tribe located in southern region Philippines. It depicts Rashiddin Jamillia’s star-crossed love amidst violent ancient feud between their families. This paper discusses process product interweaving performance traditions cultures Dalisay how transforms Juliet from tragic to utopic. does so two aspects: kinesthetic mythic. First, motif expresses unearths play’s inherently religious celestial language. Second, appropriation Asian myths or beliefs—particularly Chinese origins—transforms transcends ending Juliet’s deaths.