Leonor Orosa-Goquingco

ABOUT LEONOR OROSA-GOQUINGCO

Filipino national dancer and rule breaker, she played the piano, designed scenery and costumes, sculpted, acted, directed, danced and choreographed for stage performances. She was known as a trailblazer, "Mother of Philippine Theater Dance and Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics". She is popular for "Her Son, Jose Rizal" which she wrote and directed.

She studied English literature at St. Scholastica's College Manila, where she graduated summa cum laude. She also took graduate courses at Columbia University when she moved to New York City.

She founded the Filipinescas Dance Company in 1958, and took them on a world tour 6 separate years between 1961 and 1970.

With her husband Benjamin Goquinco she had three children: Benjamin, Jr., Rachelle and Regina.

She was very influential in the choreography of Filipino national dance, similar to how George Balanchine was to ballet.