It's hard to break into showbiz with its stellar cast of celebrities. One must first toil at small roles, which is so much harder if a male wannabe takes the dance route. Guys who dance for a career in showbiz are rare. Usually, they initially aspire to be a model, hoping to get the big break with a hit commercial. But being gifted with lightness of foot is different beat. When people recognize it, they applaud and bring the talent up to the spotlight.
PEP gives you the guys who were first discovered for their dancing prowess. Moreover, with their good looks and mass appeal they have made their way into the hearts of Filipino fans.
Dolphy
The King of Comedy began his showbiz career during the Japanese Occupation in 1944. Then known as Rodolfo Quizon, he was a stage performer in the 1950's at the Manila Grand Opera House. He was the front act to stage actors like Katy Dela Cruz, Chichay, Pablo Virtusio, Bentot and Pogo and Togo. Eventually he formed a partnership with the late Bayani Casimiro, who was well-known for his tap dancing skills.
Rodolfo Quizon's big break came when he danced alongside more popular stars like Pancho Magalona in films by Sampaguita Pictures. Doctor Jose Vera Perez christened him "Dolphy" and gave him supporting roles. Although thin, pale and sickly looking, Dolphy could really dance alongside some of the biggest stars like Tita Duran, Gloria Romero, and Susan Roces. He even became Luis Gonzales's sidekick.
Dolphy's popularity grew when he did television in the ‘60s. He was paired with Panchito in Buhay Artista. He would also be seen as ‘John' in the long running sitcom John and Marsha with the late Nida Blanca.
He was lately known as 'Cosme' in another long running sitcom Home Along Da Riles on ABS-CBN. The Comedy King will be seen again in another ABS-CBN teleserye entitled Utoy with Makisig Morales.
Dingdong Dantes
Dingdong Dantes began his showbiz career when he was nine years old, appearing regularly in several print and TV commercials. His mestizo features appealed to the advertisers.
Dingdong's next phase in showbiz was when he became part of the all-male group, Abztract Dancers, founded in 1995 by Zay Villavert. The group was formed as the popularity of the Universal Motion Dancers was at its height. They appeared regularly in television shows like Eat! Bulaga and the defunct That's Entertainment.
In 1997, Dingdong was introduced as part of the second batch of TGIS (Thank God It's Sabado). As the character Iñaki Torres, Dingdong was well received by fans of the show, especially when he co-starred with Antoinette Taus, with whom he had a real-life romance. He went on to make movies and also appeared in other GMA-7 shows.
In 2002, Dingdong was given the lead role in the primetime drama series Sana'y Ikaw na Nga, opposite Tanya Garcia. Network executives did not miss out Dingdong's hosting talents. He was chosen to emcee a few Binibining Pilipinas pageants and later on he co-hosted the reality-talent search Starstruck.
The biggest break for Dingdong came when he was chosen to play the role of Sergio in the hit primetime drama series, Marimar. The past year, he was chosen as Cosmopolitan's top bachelor, besting more than a hundred eligible bachelors.
Dino Guevarra
Dino's showbiz beginnings run parallel to that of Dingdong's. Dino began in showbiz with the dance group Abztract Dancers. He also became part of batch two of the hit teen show, TGIS (Thank God It's Sabado). He also appeared in the television shows, Anna Karenina and Sana ay Ikaw na Nga, and in the movies Honey My Love So Sweet, Ikaw Lamang, and Dahil May Isang Ikaw.
In TGIS he was paired up with Kim delos Santos as one of the love teams, together with the Dingdong-Antoinette team-up. Dino and Kim eventually got married. But conflict arose in their marriage and the two are now separated. People attribute the downward spiral of Dino's career to turbulent quarrel he had with Kim.
