Events
LOOK: Stella Dance Jam marks 70 years of Japan-Philippines friendship
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History happened over the weekend after the Queen of Swag, RIEHATA, successfully mounted a two-day show for 'Stella Dance Jam: Philippines x Japan Friendship 2026' on June 20 and 21, 2026, at the Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque.
For two days, the Stella Dance Jam took center stage as a vibrant showcase of Japanese and Filipino talent. Presented by the Japan Foundation Manila and co-presented by GMA Network, the event commemorated a historic milestone: the 70th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines.
Stella Dance Jam welcomed 13 dancers from Japan and 20 from the Philippines, carefully selected by RIEHATA through auditions held in both countries.
In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, RIEHATA expressed her thoughts after successfully showcasing the Japan-PH friendship through Stella Dance Jam: “I had so much fun; we had so much fun. There are so many things going on behind the stage, but in the end, we did great, and I'm proud of ourselves.”
Aside from RIEHATA's pick, RHT, SB19, XONARA, and J2X also joined the event and amplified the energy of the show.
Stella Dance Jam marked RHT's first performance in the Philippines.
“It was our very first time in the Philippines, and we were really, really looking forward to this. We worked so hard for this. Since this is for Japan and the Philippines friendship anniversary, we wanted to bring our Japanese spirits to a Filipino venue and share with the audience Japanese energy,” the team shared with GMANetwork.com.
Meanwhile, XONARA told GMANetwork.com they are honored to be part of such an important event between Japan and the Philippines.
“Sobrang honored kami to share the same stage with such great dancers from the Philippines and Japan. It's a learning experience for us, and we all actually love dancing, so this event is very important for the group. We're very grateful for this opportunity,” Dominique of XONARA shared with GMANetwork.com
According to Japan Foundation Manila's president, Suzuki Ben, they chose to showcase the friendship between the two countries through dance because it goes beyond language and borders, with RIEHATA being the perfect person to headline it.
“Dance is beyond the language and border. This time, we're very lucky because I found RIEHATA, who is a symbol of Japan-Philippine friendship, being Filipina-Japanese,” Suzuki Ben explained to GMANetwork.com.
Likewise, J2X enjoyed the event, since it highlighted how dance is indeed a universal language.
“[Nakakatuwa] siya na puwede palang magsama 'yung magkaibang lahi na pareho ng gusto na makapagbigay ng magandang show,” J2X told GMANetwork.com.
Suzuki Ben assured GMA Network there will be more events like Stella Dance Jam to nourish the talents of Japan and the Philippines: “We want to develop this kind of friendship between Japan and the Philippines to cultivate young creatives. Stella Dance Jam is not just a show; this is where we find new talents, so of course, we have to continue.”
Take a closer look at the historic Stella Dance Jam in this gallery:
