Victoria Exconde: Dancing, creating, and opening doors

by Oscar Pantaleon Jr.

Victoria Exconde has lived in so many different spaces as a performer, moving between dance floors, theatre stages, television studios, sports arenas, classrooms and, occasionally, a giant Backyardigans costume.

A dancer, choreographer, performer, and teacher, Victoria trained at The School of Contemporary Dancers under its senior professional program, then later earned a BA Honours in Theatre & Drama with a concentration in Dance from the University of Winnipeg.

She has worked with organizations including Nafro Dance Productions, Winnipeg Studio Theatre, and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, while also developing her skills in choreography and producing through formal mentorships. As an educator, she has held classes at the LA Dance Academy, Rainbow Stage, University of Winnipeg, and University of Manitoba.

From dance to theatre

For Victoria, the roots of her performing career go back much further. “My first dance teacher was my Ate Hope,” she recalls. Her older cousin would teach their cousins dances that were performed at gatherings. “Those performances with my family sparked my love for performing.”

Her formal path began in Grade 9 at Sisler High School. Then, a scholarship to the School of Contemporary Dancers opened doors to professional opportunities and connections within Winnipeg’s dance community.

Theatre came later. About six years ago, Victoria watched early workshops of Joseph Sevillo’s Ma-Buhay! and remembers thinking, “I could do that!” Joseph invited her to participate in a workshop and, eventually, in the Canadian premiere. “That was the moment I started building myself as a theatre artist,” she says.

Leading with kindness

Victoria grew up watching her cousins dance with Magdaragat at Folklorama, unaware of the general Winnipeg art scene. As a child, she attended picnics at Kildonan Park without realizing that Rainbow Stage was nearby. “Now I feel like a veteran there!” she laughs.

Along the way, lessons have been learned. Her mother taught her to “lead with kindness,” while her husband, Robin Jordan Quintana, urged her to “approach everything with passion.” Joseph showed her “what it means to live fiercely.” Balancing performing, teaching, and choreography requires, in her words, “a full brain and an even fuller heart.”

Operating in the performing arts circles, Victoria soon realized how broad Winnipeg’s art community is. “There are countless possibilities for Filipino artists to explore,” she reveals. To her fellow Filipino Canadian artists, she shares, “There is space for us on these stages, and we can pursue the things we’re passionate about.”

Choreographing hockey

Now, Victoria is taking on a new challenge as choreographer for Glory at Prairie Theatre Exchange. She shared this with me after Filipino Canadian theatre maven Joy Lazo introduced us last May in the RMTC lobby where we watched Stephanie Sy and Ma-Anne Dionisio’s concert.

This project grew from an earlier collaboration with Ann Hodges, PTE artistic director, on Waitress at RMTC, and a subsequent work for Rise Musical Theatre’s The Remix at PTE. “I’m grateful that Ann saw potential in my work,” she says.

Ann is enthusiastic about what Victoria brings to the production. “I’ve seen her choreography on a few projects and her work is truly next level. She’s so smart and creative, and loved by everyone who works with her. Even in early rehearsals I can see that Victoria’s choreography is exciting and super-fun,” says Ann.

Making art accessible

Driven by a desire to make the arts more accessible, Victoria has returned to school to pursue a degree in education. She hopes to bring together her years of artistic experience and her passion for teaching to create meaningful learning environments where young people can discover their own potential.

“I’ve found that one of the most effective ways to make an impact is through students, by helping them see possibilities they may not have considered for themselves,” she says.

And so goes the heart of Victoria’s work: using creativity not only as a form of expression, but as a pathway to inspiration, opportunity, and transformation for the next generation.

Watch Victoria Exconde’s choreographic work in Glory from October 13 to 25 at Prairie Theatre Exchange. Details at www.pte.mb.ca.