Spinning
new twists to well-loved classics
By Nico
Erle Ciriaco
Ballet Philippines
(BP) opens its 44th season with the classical romantic tragedy,
Giselle. An overwhelming story of loss, forgiveness, and love beyond death, premiere danseur Nonoy Froilan re-stages one of ballet’s greatest stories in
an entirely new production slated on August 16-18 at the Tanghalang Nicanor
Abelardo.
“Giselle
is my favorite ballet piece. But it is not normally mounted because of
logistics and casting issues. It needs maturity and technique to tackle. I’ve
redone the production with colors and costumes. We’ve recycled some of our old stuff
and borrowed a few. The worn out look of the costumes brings texture to the
show. We wanted authentic costumes that can be worn outside the theater; where
people can see it and realize they don’t look ‘costumey’ at all. Even our props
are real!
“Repetition
cures problems on fluidity of execution. Dancers only need to work double time
to perfect certain movements. New works are experimental. You don’t know if
it’ll work or not. You’ll find out only when it’s finally staged,” declared
Nonoy. In his younger years, the premiere danseur played the male lead,
Albrecht, to at least four Giselles: Ester Quimpo, Anna Villadolid, Lisa
Macuja, and Yoko Morishita.
In
celebration of the 150th natal anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the
dance musical [rock] Supremo takes
center-stage on Sept. 20-22 and 27-29 at the CCP Little Theater. The life of this valiant and visionary hero
will be celebrated in a study of his romantic and revolutionary life.
Integrated with a multimedia landscape, this collaboration with Rock Ed is
co-presented by the National Historical Commission and the National Commission
on Culture & the Arts. It features the talent and music of ten popular
bands including Radioactive Sago Project, Gloc-9 and Sandwich, with songwriters
Abay, Diego Mapa, Kai Honasan, and Francis de Veyra among others.
For the
Yuletide season, Nonoy’s better half, Edna Vida-Froilan, will present her take
on the Charles Dicken’s popular novel “A Christmas Carol” from Nov. 29 through
Dec. 8 at the CCP Main Theater. The acclaimed choreographer returns
to BP equipped with new and fresh insights; after a 6-month arts tour in New
York City through the Asia Cultural Council.
“I
inserted new stuff in the Christmas Carol that’s inspired from my recent Big
Apple experience. I’m going out of my comfort zone, my box, and reached out to
the child in me. It’s a like a dream where there’s no particular time frame. I
struggled to un-Scrooge myself; fusing elements of modern ballet and hip-hop
into the choreography,” shared Edna.
Enliven
the spirit of the coming holidays through the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his
belated – or, in this case, advanced – appreciation of the Christmas spirit.
The
season closes, aptly, with “The Art of Dance” in February 2014. A mixed bill of
new and revived works from noted guest choreographers, BP’s seasonal Gala will
feature exciting pieces that showcase the company’s twin mastery of classical and
contemporary ballet.
Founded
in 1969 by Alice Reyes, with the support of Eddie Elejar and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), BP is widely recognized today as a cornerstone
of the Filipino cultural identity. Its audience represents a cross-section of
Metro Manila’s populace and includes visitors from around the archipelago and
around the globe. Each year, outreach and educational programs introduce new
generations of viewers not only to dance, but also to music and visual art as
well.
BP’s official
school, the CCP Dance School, continues to produce dancers of international
caliber. As the dance company in residence at the CCP, BP is globally
acknowledged as the country’s flagship company in ballet and contemporary
dance. With a treasure trove of over 400 works, BP’s wide-ranging and eclectic
repertory is unparalleled in Asia. From full-length classical ballets and
internationally recognized masterworks to indigenous tales of Filipino folklore
and social issues, the company weaves a colorful tapestry of the Philippines’
rich and diverse cultural heritage.
The
company’s accolades, coupled with the generous and prestigious support of
numerous local and national funding sources, have dramatically strengthened
BP’s position as a world-class ballet company with the national, regional and
international arts community. As the Philippines’ premier dance company, BP
continues its vision of nurturing the best of Filipino talents, in a year-long
program of professional and developmental dance.
The
company is ably led by its president, Margie Moran-Floirendo, and artistic
director Paul Morales as they continue to take the company to greater heights.
BP is a Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) accredited
donee/recipient foundation.
“We
still do our annual fundraiser activities. Sixty per cent of our students at the Dance Academy are recipients of our scholarship grants. Some of our scholars eventually go on to finish a
degree at St. Benilde. For the 45th season, we will be presenting
Swan Lake and Agnes Locsin’s “La Revolucion Filipina,” enthused the former Miss
Universe.
For
inquiries, simply visit www.ballet.ph or call the BP office through
tel. no. 551-1003. For ticket reservations, you may call the CCP box office at
832-3704 or TicketWorld at 891-9999.
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