Alden Richards finds deeper rhythm in dance and hosting

January 24 ------ What started out as a skill, award-winning actor Alden Richards was told he “had to have,” is now a full-bodied expression of joy, storytelling, and connection — not just for the camera, but for real life. As he returns this February to anchor the second season of the GMA Network’s original dance contest, “Stars on the Floor,” Alden opens up about how the show has reshaped his relationship with dance, the stage, and even his approach to hostings.

“I really trained for it when I was younger,” Alden recalled in a pocket interview at GMA Studio 6. “When you want to be in this industry, you’re expected to do everything — act, sing, dance. So I learned to dance because it was a skill I needed. But this show — it has given me a deeper meaning for the art of dance. I started looking at it not just as something to perform, but as a way to tell a story, to share something of yourself with your audience.”

Dance, he says, has become more than just a polished routine; it’s now a form of communication, and sometimes, of release. He admits that even outside of work, he finds himself dancing “to make moments with my family more memorable.” “I think that’s how dance can be incorporated in our daily lives,” he shared. “We all have those moments — we dance alone, we dance with someone special, or when we’re sad. And that’s what makes it so universal.”

The idea of movement as memory is especially true for Alden when he’s with family. “Whenever I’m with my sisters, sometimes I initiate the dancing,” he said, recalling clips he’s shared on social media. “But when we do that, it’s not just for the audience anymore — it’s something we do to make our bonding extra special,”

It’s this same authenticity that makes Alden such an effective host on “Stars on the Floor.” While hosting wasn’t his original path, his time on “Eat Bulaga” and later GMA shows gradually revealed a talent he never expected to enjoy this much. “I think being able to connect the dancers to the dance authority, and then both to the audience, is such a fulfilling job,” he said. “After every episode, I feel like I’ve learned something — not just about the performers, but about the art itself. And that’s what makes this the best show I’ve hosted so far.”

That evolution continues into the new season of “Stars on the Floor,” which Alden teased will feature duos composed of celebrity dance stars paired with P-Pop group leaders. While he stopped short of naming the idols who’ve been invited, he emphasized the team’s excitement to bring two passionate dance worlds together on one stage. “So many of our celebrity dancers are already deeply familiar with dance,” he said, “and now we’re pairing them with P-Pop leaders who are equally immersed in movement. The goal is to give them a platform to showcase their talent and maybe reach new audiences in the process.”

Source: manilatimes.net