BIOGRAPHY

Alvin Collantes (he/they) is a Filipino-Canadian guest speaker, queer dance artist, movement explorer, choreographer, and Jungian life coach whose work explores the emotional upheavals of assimilation, queerness as an artistic practice and the embodied struggles of migrant bodies. His artistic research delves into queerness as a radical practice of embracing wholeness and self-acceptance, weaving these themes into his performances and community work. Based in Berlin, Alvin is a 2024 Soho House Fellowship member through the Creative Futures Collective.

As a drag performer, Alvin embodies his alter ego "Bibingka," a character deeply rooted in his Filipino heritage and a bridge between his cultural past and the Western landscapes he now inhabits. Through Bibingka, Alvin channels the echoes of a nation shaped by centuries of colonization—by Spanish rule (1521–1898), American influence (1898–1946), and Japanese occupation (1941–1946). The essence of “Bibingka” delves into the personal and artistic processes of decolonization, excavating pre-colonial Philippine virtues and values through the body when Philippine society was matriarchal and queer/trans bodies were revered and honoured as chieftain & medicine people. Bibingka serves as a love letter to the resilience of the Filipino people, reflecting their grace in weathering every storm and their resourcefulness in adapting to ever-shifting climates, both literal and metaphorical. This character becomes a vessel for ancestral voices, embodying the strength, survival, and spirit of the Filipino soul.

Bibingka regularly graces Berlin’s queer nightlife, bringing this powerful narrative to stages at iconic events like Horse Meat Disco, Lunchbox Candy, and Pyramid Party, infusing every performance with the weight and beauty of cultural memory.

As a core member of the KDV Dance Ensemble, Alvin Collantes moves within the deeply evocative worlds crafted by Kiani Del Valle, performing in works such as Cortex (2024) at Sonar Festival Barcelona, La Tierra Quemada (2022), Fuego en el campo (2024), and Las Casas Invisibles (2020). His fluid, transformative presence on stage brings life to narratives of displacement, survival, and transformation. Alvin’s solo collaboration with musician Jun Suzuki, FLUIDS, delves into the fluidity of identity and the liminal spaces of self-expression, presented at Tanz Im August and the Asian Performing Arts Lab.

Alvin has also danced for BlackPearl (House of St Laurent), debuting Between Us at BritneyX Festival in Cologne, and performed under the visionary guidance of fashion icon Michèle Lamy in the premiere of Matt Lambert’s film Infinite 2 at the Julia Stoschek Collection, choreographed by Steven Fast.

Currently, Alvin and Jun Suzuki are engaged in an intimate artistic exploration through FLUIDS, a piece inspired by their parallel childhoods in Japan and the Philippines. Together, they weave a tapestry of stories left behind, navigating emotional landscapes of grief, identity, belonging, and acceptance. This work has been performed at the APAL Residency, Magical Hackerism: Elasticity of Resilience at SAVVY Contemporary, and the House of Beautiful Business, pushing the boundaries of how personal and cultural histories are felt and shared through movement and sound.

As a dance educator, Alvin was awarded in 2020 by the Canadian Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council with the “Skills and Career Development Grant for People of Colour Scholarship” to become the first Certified Gaga Teacher from Toronto. Alvin has taught workshops around the globe including Canada, Germany, The Philippines, Thailand & Sweden.

Alvin Collantes is the creator of Dose of Pleasure, a transformative dancefloor activation practice that promotes body liberation, community empowerment, and social sustainability. Featured in media outlets such as ARTE TV and Vice Germany, this practice transcends traditional boundaries, fostering spaces of diversity, inclusion, and collective care.

Alvin has shared Dose of Pleasure at festivals like WHOLE United Queer Festival, Amsterdam Dance Event, and the Menstrualities Exhibition at Alte Münze, inspiring connection and joy through movement. His work also extends into professional environments, exploring the potentiality of sharing dance floor spaces to cultivate belonging, empowerment, and care, while championing dance as a powerful tool for building social sustainability and celebrating diversity.