Charles Teves
Many viewers saw the fifth episode of Drag Race Philippines on Wednesday, September 7, as uneventful and overall bad, especially the dance number choreographed by Douglas Nierras.
The episode began with the host Paolo Ballesteros notifying the contestants that they’ll be skipping the weekly mini-challenge. The queens participated in the “Miss Shutacca” challenge instead, wherein they portrayed stereotypical pageant queens and performed a dance number choreographed by Nierras.
Nierras is known to be harsh during practices, and viewers did not take kindly his approach.
sorry but di na dapat tinotolerate at ginoglorify ang mga Douglas Nierras sa entertainment industry or in any work place. I’m speaking as a freelance film worker na nilalayasan ang mga direktor / producer / artista / prod na toxic at atichona na wala sa lugar.
— Xeph Suarez (@xephsuarez) September 7, 2022
Some also didn’t see the value of Nierras’s contribution to the show, but someone in a way defended the celebrated choreographer who got invited because the episode supports the Golden Gays.
https://twitter.com/thepigprint/status/1567494561362243589?s=20&t=cZzoyyDhpRgmwr8WneHSAw
@bloocabbage criticized Nierras as having no value to the franchised show and compared the seasoned choreographer’s choreography to the girls.
Douglas Nierras doesn't add anything to the franchise: no talent, no drama, no whatsoever. He's just a relic whose toxic personality doesn't belong in any positive space. Mas maganda pa choreo ng girls.#DragRace #DragRacePH #DragRacePhilippines pic.twitter.com/MgNYFb07iL
— Blue Cabbage (@bloocabbage) September 7, 2022
I really think Douglas nierras is the wrong kind of choreographer for this series
— The Norman Whore #labanleni2022 (@emkey) September 7, 2022
Then, @markymarksworld thought and preferred Georcelle or GForce to tackle the job as opposed to Nierras.
At this point, i’m tired of Douglas Nierras narrative eme. This is a missed opportunity to get teacher Georcelle or any GForce instructor. #DragRacePH #DragRacePhilippines
— Mikkhael (@markymarksworld) September 7, 2022
At this point, i’m tired of Douglas Nierras narrative eme. This is a missed opportunity to get teacher Georcelle or any GForce instructor. #DragRacePH #DragRacePhilippines
— Mikkhael (@markymarksworld) September 7, 2022
Nierras is the founder of Douglas Nierras Powerdance (DNPD). DNPD has represented the country in numerous international events such as Mexico, Singapore, Tokyo and the United States. The company has also won the Grand Prix at the 10th Saitama International Creative Dance Concourse in Japan.
The Philippine Canadian Arts Society of Manitoba wanted to brought DNPD to Winnipeg thorugh the society director Dante Aviso.
“It’s the premier dance group in the Phillippines,” said Aviso, adding the collective fits perfectly with his group’s mandate.
“We would like to showcase the Filipino talent in all its different forms, be it music, dance, arts and culture.”
Marge Enriquez, a foremost art critic, proclaimed, “Nierras is the most important choreographer of the Century.”
He has over four decades of experience teaching dance and well known in the local entertainment industry. He has judged and choreographed for Starstruck on GMA 7, Stardance and I Can Do That on ABS-CBN, and Shall We Dance and Dancing Nation on TV 5.
Nierras also judges renowned competitions held during the Sinulog Festival and the popular Aliwan Festival.
In 2019, Nierras received his Lifetime Achievement Award in Dance and was voted as Aliw Awards BEST Choreographer twice, once in the ’90s and 2nd in the said year.
Nierras pursued Speech Education and Theatre Arts at the University of the Philippines-Dilian.
Aside from Nierras’s highly criticized appearance, the episode also featured Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who served as a guest judge.
However, Wurtzbach’s guesting helped shoot up the ratings.
Lady Morgana’s performance had the least favorable reviews from the judges. They called it inconsistent and messy. Her at the bottom was Brigiding, whom the judges said was “forgettable.”
Lady Morgana had the worst day and got eliminated.
“I’m a simple gay drag queen na nangarap (who dared to dream), and here I am,” she said as she left the competition.
Additional Text by Jude Cartalaba.
