Ballet Philippines Opens Its 49th Season With A Full House For Alice Reyes’ Carmina Burana

Press release

Friday night traffic didn’t stop patrons of dance and budding lovers of the performance arts from heading to the Cultural Center of The Philippines to catch the opening of Ballet Philippines’Carmina Burana. Choreographed by the company’s artistic director and National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes to the music of Carl Orff, the performance returned to the CCP stage that night after 15 long years.

 

Photo by Trixie Dauz

With several iterations and tweaks from the original piece, this year’s Carmina Burana proved a powerful performance that set the tone for an equally impactful 49^th season for the country’s premiere dance company. The gala saw a full house that was in for an enhanced dance experience that only Ballet Philippines could bring to its audiences.

 

Decision makers of the business sector, dignitaries, philanthropists, patrons of the arts and the city’s well-heeled gathered at the lounge pre-show to enjoy fine wines and delectable canapes from Bizu. There were also new faces among audiences whose developing interest and appreciation for dance was sparked by news that Carmina Burana would be an experience not to be missed. For this young hipster set, Friday night at the ballet revealed itself to be ta fitting prelude to a weekend well spent.

 

Of all the faces in the crowd, it was the large group of officers from the Philippine Air Force that turned heads. Men in uniform accompanied by their wives and children took the time out from their schedules to enjoy an evening of exceptional dance. If anything, the audience that Ballet Philippines drew over the weekend was indication that Philippines dance (not just ballet) is alive—and thriving!

Ballet Philippines Chairman Antonio O. Cojuangco welcomed guests before the curtains went up. In his opening remarks he said, “For a piece of such monumental and epic proportions to be produced, it takes vast resources, experience and a company of such caliber as Ballet Philippines. It also demands the genius of a National Artist for Dance like Alice Reyes to choreograph something as powerful and riveting.”

 

From the time the lights dimmed at around 8PM till the last phrases of Carmina Burana’s O Fortunawere sang, audiences were captivated. They were immersed in a full sensorial explosion, as live music by the ABS CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and The Philippine Madrigal Singers surrounded them. The visual delight of bodies dancing in perfect unison against a backdrop of moving rock formations designed by National Artist Salvador Bernal kept everyone’s eyes glued to the stage.

 

As the curtains rolled down, audiences stood and cheered for the performers whose hard work made the momentous evening possible. The applause was also thunderous as beloved maestro Gerard Salonga and the woman-of-the-hour Alice Reyes took their bows. Capping off the night with a sweet ending, audiences were also treated to rich chocolates from as they poured back into the lobby.

It was late by the time the crowd fully dispersed outside the main theater. Crowds waited at the lobby to greet the company as they descended the grand stairs of the CCP. Photos were snapped, some by them by beautiful floral arrangement by Love Garden. Others with their favorite beacons of the arts—Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, National Artist for Literature and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Bienvenido Lumbera, to name a few. And as the enhanced ballet experience came to an end, plans were made to catch the next grand performance from Ballet Philippines:  Carmen and Other Dances.

For more information, images or video, please email us at our Publicity Team. We would be delighted to hear from you! Thank you again for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in October!