What is Bodabil? Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez to play Bodabil stars in 'Pulang Araw'

MANILA, Philippines — Sanya Lopez and Barbie Forteza had to learn tap dance for the first time, and act, sing and dance all at the same time to be convincing Bodabil stars in "Pulang Araw." 

The actresses are two of the four main leads of the show premiering tonight in Netflix at 8 p.m. and will start airing on GMA-7 on July 29 after "24 Oras." 

"Ang saya ng experience kasi sobrang malapit sa puso ko si Sanya and we both experienced something for the very first time na magagamit namin sa trabaho at saka sa character namin dito sa 'Pulang Araw.' Kaya memorable sa akin ang Bodabil at tap dance," said Barbie during the July 9 press conference for the show held in Makati. 

Barbie plays Adelina dela Cruz, the illegitimate daughter of Bodabil actor and theater owner Julio Borromeo, played by Epy Quizon. 

Sanya, meanwhile, is happy that she gets to star with Barbie, who is the real-life girlfriend of her older brother, actor Jak Roberto. 

"Challenge sa amin pareho. Ni wala kaming idea sa pagta-tap dance. 

"Kumakanta habang nagta-tap dance. Umaarte habang nagta-tap dance. Kailangan ng emosyon. Hindi siya biro. At first, akala namin madali lang, parang paa-paa lang. Na-realize namin mas mabilis mag-hip-hop," Sanya explained. 

She plays Adelina's half-sister, Teresita. 

In GMA's promotional art card for the show, it explained that Bodabil is a show that is likened to a circus where viewers are treated to singing, dancing, drama and comedy. It was brought by American soldiers who first performed vaudeville in the country. 

In the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. VII, it referred to Bodabil as the "indigenized" form of vaudeville that was introduced in the Philippines around the turn of the 20th century. 

Vaudeville is defined as a theatrical genre that began in France at the end of the 19th century. It spread in other parts of the world, including the United States in the early 1880s. 

The show's concept creator Suzette Doctolero told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview during the July 9 press conference that Bodabil was the new addition to her original concept for the show, which she conceptualized in 2012. 

"Kaya ko nilagay