About Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera | Kilusan
Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera, MEd also known as Kilusan (siya/sanda/they/she) is a Tagalog Bisaya Filipinx queer non-binary multi-disciplinary artist, educator and community organizer. Their ancestral roots are in Navotas, Manila and Tangalan, Aklan. Kilusan is a chosen Tagalog name that means movement of an individual and/or group. Maribeth is a child of Filipino immigrants, born, raised, and based in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory.
A lifelong learner, they have focused their energy on diving deeply into their passions: dance, education, DJing, and community building. In October 2025, Maribeth graduated from the University of Toronto, O.I.S.E. MEd program from the Department of Social Justice Education. Maribeth has been a public school educator and an artist facilitator for over a decade. They have served on several non-profit boards most recently, Manitoba Music and Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists/West. She has presented her work as an educator, dancer, and DJ at events all over Turtle Island (North America).
Some of Maribeth's most notable projects include presenting 'Into Our World' at Art Holm no 8 (September 2023) in Winnipeg and producing a video essay for CBC Manitoba's Creators Network "Unlocked" series (March 2022). In November 2023, Maribeth became a published author, contributing "Pagpapasok sa sarili ko/Coming Into Myself" to Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing published by Cormorant Books.
A street-style dancer for over 25 years, Maribeth's training background includes breaking, hip hop, house, vogue femme, punking/whacking, dancehall and afrobeat. They have trained and performed with Magdaragat Inc. (1996-2003), Define Movement (2006 - 2013), Project Dance Company (2015), and B.O.S.S. Dance Team (2015-2020). A leader in the Winnipeg Kiki Ballroom scene, Maribeth was crowned Princess Kilusan Pinklady of the International House of Pinklady - Winnipeg Chapter in October 2025. Winnipeg’s first Kiki Ballroom House in history.
A graduate from Mama Cutsworth's DJ Academy, they have been an open-format DJ, since 2018. Kilusan has performed alongside international acts such as Kimmortal, Begonia, Ill Town Sluggaz, Skratch Bastid, Cupcakke, and DJ Maseo of De La Soul.
In 2022, Maribeth launched their company Kilusan Productions. Through unique, inclusive and community-minded education, dance, DJing, production and event organising, Kilusan Productions strives to cultivate a grassroots contemporary art movement rooted in social responsibility and mutual solidarity.
Curriculum Vitae (Updated December 2025)