Scarred is Beautiful

Scarred is Beautiful: Solo Performance by Myra Beltran

Scarred is Beautiful is one of the seminal solo works of Filipino contemporary dancer Myra Beltran, first performed in 2009 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines. The performance explores themes of body, memory, and identity, with Beltran using her own body to confront ideas of beauty, trauma, and transformation. A striking feature of the solo is a video of scars serving as the backdrop, which visually amplifies the themes of the piece.

Digibox was commissioned to edit the short video clip, recently produced and integrated in 2012, with Jordan Arabejo as editor, ensuring that it seamlessly complements Beltran's live movement on stage. The result is a compelling audiovisual experience that heightens the emotional and conceptual resonance of the work, allowing audiences to engage with the narrative of the body as both a site of vulnerability and strength.

Myra Beltran is a pioneering figure in the independent contemporary dance scene in the Philippines, known for her innovative exploration of the body, memory, and identity. By 2004, she had established herself as a leading soloist and choreographer, creating works that challenged traditional notions of movement and performance space. Her early solos, including Scarred Is Beautiful, continued to resonate and were recently revived with a video component produced and integrated in 2012, highlighting her interest in integrating multimedia elements, personal narrative, and experimental choreography. This reinforces her status as one of the most significant voices in Philippine contemporary dance.