ALICE REYES RECREATES CINDERELLA ANEW IN CELEBRATING BALLET PHILIPPINES’ 50TH SEASON

PRESS RELEASE

Holidays at the theater make for unforgettable experiences with Ballet Philippines during this Golden Season, as the company presents the ever-popular rags-to-riches tale of Cinderella.

 

Photo by Jojo Mamangun

This production sees nothing less than a nonpareil collaboration of three National Artists: Choreography and direction by National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes with the musical score of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky specially arranged by National Artist for Music Francisco Feliciano, and set and costume design by National Artist, the late Salvador Bernal, audiences will be enthralled as pumpkins turn into an exquisite carriage and glass slippers find their way back to the rightful princess. This ballet will be mounted by none other than Nonoy Froilan, Ballet Philippines’ premier danseur for three decades, who has essayed leading roles in classical and contemporary ballet and has partnered with world-renowned prima ballerinas such as Margot Fonteyn and Yoko Morishita.

Reyes takes the fairy tale written in 1812 by the German Grimm brothers Jacob and Wilhel and recreates it anew while remaining true to the story’s essence: that there is might and strength in kindness, great power in forgiveness, and that one must never give up on their dreams.

Guest artists Liza de la Fuente, a trailblazer in dance for the last 25 years and Founding Member of the Association of Ballet Academies, Philippines and Australian-based Novy Bereber, one of the country’s leading choreographers of his generation, will both be playing the Widow Brunhilda.

Another guest artist, Mario Esperanza will be taking on the role of Prime Minister. Bereber and Esperanza have graced the CCP Main Stage as former Ballet Philippines company members.

Two matinee shows will be narrated by Liliane “Tats” Rejante Manahan, a surface decorator/restorer for wall paintings involved in advocacy work for built heritage preservation as Chairperson of the Heritage Conservation Society and representative of the International Council on Monuments and Sites on National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ National Commission on Monuments and Sites. She became a director, writer, and producer from the mid 70’s up to the late 80’s, and currently, she is a contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer and other publications. Her involvement in dance history serves as proof of her unwavering support for dance and the arts.

Lead dancers Denise Parungao and Jemima Reyes who danced Odile/Odette in Ballet Philippines’ 50^th Season opening production Swan Lake will be taking on roles of the Ugly Stepsisters, demanding highly awkward dancing and comedic interpretations, with guest artist de la Fuente as their mother Brunhilda. Just as striking are Victor Maguad and Eugene Obille who both had just played Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake this August 2019 will now tackle the roles of Griselda and Prunella with Bereber as Brunhilda. Choreographer Alice Reyes shares, “Originally, I stayed away from casting male dancers in these roles as that was done so successfully by Frederick Ashton for the Sadler Wells Ballet—and I wanted to feature the comedic talents of our company members then—Edna Vida, Malu Rivera, and Hazel Sabas. Today, we have such a strong array of male and female dancers with incredible talent and tremendous technical skills.” She adds, “Why not take this opportunity to challenge the dancers—both female and male, to take on roles that demand so much more than the usual roles they have already done, with a completely different set of acting skills that can only deepen their own artistry.”

Alice Reyes first choreographed and directed Cinderella in 1981 for Ballet Philippines with lead dancers Maricar Drilon, Gina Mariano, Cecile Sicangco, Nonoy Froilan, Robert Medina, and Brando Miranda. Her vision back then was to simply mount the most enchanting show for her very own children and the ballet audience. Today, Reyes wears multiple hats as National Artist, Ballet Philippines’ co-founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer, while continuing to inspire this generation’s dancers to become the grandest versions of themselves. Just on the heels of Ballet Philippines’ successful and sold-out performances of Swan Lake and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, audiences are undoubtedly on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting Reyes’ new take on the favorite children’s fairytale, Cinderella, the third offering in the company’s 50^th Season.

Ballet Philippines’ Cinderella show dates and schedules:

Ballet Philippines’ Cinderella runs from December 6 – 15, 2019 at the CCP Main Theater. Show dates and schedules are as follows:

December 6, 2019 | 8:00 PM

December 7, 2019 | 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM

December 8, 2019 | 2:00 PM

December 14, 2019 | 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM

December 15, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Get your tickets exclusively at TicketWorld (891-9999), CCP Box Office (832-3704), or Ballet Philippines Box Office (551-1003) or online at https://bit.ly/33DsBkx as well as in all Ticketworld outlets.

Enjoy 15% savings when you use your RCBC Credit Card to purchase tickets in any TicketWorld Outlet or CCP Box Office.

You can also enjoy 15% savings when you use your Rustan’s Frequent Shopper Program (FSP) Card and Rustan’s Beauty Addict Card to purchase tickets in any TicketWorld outlet or CCP Box Office.

Avail of real 0% interest when you subscribe to Ballet Philippines’ Golden Season Tickets using your BPI Credit Card with a minimum spend of P3,000 (Gold Mastercard, Blue Mastercard, Petron Mastercard, Corporate Mastercard, Skymiles Platinum Mastercard, Skymiles Mastercard, Amore Visa Platinum, Visa Signature). This is valid for three- and six-month installment plans until December 31, 2019. 

All Intellicare members are also entitled to 15% off on ticket purchases.

This production is made beyond possible by Ballet Philippines’ 50 Years, 50 friends such as Okada Manila, Calma Properties, Inc., City of Dreams, United Graphic Expression Corporation, Digital-Out-Of-Home, GRAB, Ayala Land, Bizu Catering Studio, NYXSYS Philippines, Intellicare, Globaltronics, Sanitary Care Products Asia Inc., SM Development Corporation, Century Pacific Food, Inc., Bridges, Zonta Club of Alabang, San Miguel Corporation, and other esteemed partners.

Ballet Philippines, the country’s preeminent dance company, is celebrating 50 years of dance excellence. Don’t miss the celebration! Get your Golden Ticket by subscribing to Ballet Philippines this season at http://ballet.ph/subscribe. You can also call 551-1003, 09566379432 (Globe) and 09212921282 (Smart) to subscribe. Choose, reserve, and get the best seats before anyone else!

For more information, connect to Ballet Philippines online:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/balletphilippines

Instagram: @balletphilippines

YouTube: balletphhttp://www.ballet.ph

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!

Ballet Manila presents ‘American Stars Gala’

Press release

Ballet Manila presents today’s brightest and fastest-rising Asian and American dance artists in American Stars Gala, scheduled onJ uly 7, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex.

 

 Lia Cirio, Boston Ballet principal dancer

American Stars Gala is a fundraiser for Ballet Manila’s Project Ballet Futures scholarship program.

The one-night-only concert will be headlined by Boston Ballet principal dancers Lia Cirio and Junxiong Zhao, with soloist Hannah Bettes; Houston Ballet principal dancers Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews; and Ballet Manila resident guest principal artists Katherine Barkman and Joseph Phillips.

Fresh from participating as the first Filipino contenders in the USA International Ballet Competition’s junior division, Ballet Manila company artists Nicole Barroso and Joshua Enciso will also make a special appearance.

The evening’s repertoire consists of well-loved classics and powerful neo-classical and contemporary pieces, including a world premiere.

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso,
Ballet Manila artistic directors

Cirio will perform as the White Swan, Odette, together with BM soloist Mark Sumaylo as Prince Siegfried and the BM corps de ballet in Swan Lake Act 2.

Kajima and Matthews will dance the Giselle pas de deux and the Madame Butterfly pas de deux by Stanton Welch.

Zhao will partner Bettes in the La Sylphide pas de deux and the Sleeping Beauty wedding pas de deux.

Barkman and Phillips will perform the Le Corsaire pas de deux and the contemporary piece KBJP, created for them by choreographer Augustus Damian III.

Barroso and Enciso will dance George Birkadze’s tango-inspired Bru and the classic Diane and Acteon.

Meanwhile, Ballet Manila will unveil Birkadze’s brand new choreography, Imperial, as well as restage a company warhorse,Deconstructing Gershwin, by Hazel Sabas-Gower.

BM artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde says it was choreographer and Boston Ballet faculty George Birkadze – recently in town to create new works for her company – who suggested bringing together these outstanding young dancers in one show.

Since most of them were scheduled to perform in gala concerts across the Asia-Pacific region, Birkadze said it would be the perfect time for them to converge in the Philippines and join forces with the BM artists.

“The plan took off immediately because I really wanted to bring in Lia Cirio, who is an outstanding principal dancer with Filipino roots. It would give local audiences a chance to see her perform and get to know her better,” says Macuja-Elizalde.

“I have never been to the Philippines,” says the US-born Cirio, who has danced classical, neo-classical, and contemporary roles for Boston Ballet since 2004. “I am looking forward to seeing where my father spent some of his childhood.  He still has family there, so I am hoping they will be able to attend the show. I know that Filipinos love dance, so I know that performing for them will be rewarding.”

American Stars Gala follows Macuja-Elizalde’s previous efforts to bring international ballet artists to the Philippines, includingToday’s Stars of the Russian Ballet (2010), The World Stars of Ballet (2012), and Stars of Philippine Ballet (2013).

Tickets for Ballet Manila’s American Stars Gala are now available at all TicketWorld outlets, online at www.ticketworld.com.ph, or through 891-9999.

Ballet Phils. restages The Nutcracker for the Holiday Season.

Last Christmas season, Ballet Phils. staged an original production Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko for the first time. This year, BP is going back to the classic with The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker ballet is a significant part in the Yuletide Season. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite was so familiar that it was featured as background music for the Home Alone movies that starred Macaulay Culkin.

The Nutcracker is a timeless piece for ballet that it is suited for the holiday season. This is why the Nutcracker is now considered a Christmas decoration rather than tool. It’s called a nutcracker because its mouth can really crack a hard nut when you lever it to close. It only has one trademark face but it can be a king, prince or a soldier.

This production of Ballet Philippines’ The Nutcracker combines the choreography of National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes and Edna Vida. Ms. Reyes serves as the artistic director while Ms. Vida coaches the dancers. For this production, BP will be joined by international guest artist Nobuo Fujino, principal dancer of Hong Kong Ballet while resident guest artist Candice Adea will alternate with Denise Parungao and Jemima Reyes as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Instead of a European setting, the story takes place in 1920's Philippines during the Noche Buena.

 

Denise Parungao as the Sugar Plum Fairy

There will be selected shows with live music by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Gerard Salonga. This production will give tribute to the late National Artist of Theater Design Salvador Bernal. His set design will be used for this production.

To make the Nutcracker experience memorable especially to children, BP will host The Nutcracker Tea Party for children with fun activities like decorating ballet shoes and meet the dancers. Limited slots are available. The Nutcracker will be staged on CCP from December 1 to 10, 2017. It was performed by Ballet Philippines back in 2005. It the best time to see it now or wait another 12 years for it to be restaged again.

Margie Moran, BP president and Alice Reyes,artistic director(L-R, standing)

Check out the limited edition Nutcracker ornaments on sale online for the benefit of BP scholars. Follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs for more updates about Ballet Phils.

LIVE THE ULTIMATE DANCER’S LIFE AT BP DANCE SCHOOL’S SUMMER DANCE WORKSHOP FROM APRIL 17 TO MAY 21

Press release

Summer can be the most crucial time for a budding ballerina’s career. While most children are on vacations or staycations, the pupils of Ballet Philippines Dance School are hard at work. Three to five times a week, they fill their days with classes in classical ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip hop, and even lectures – all geared towards guiding them towards becoming full-fledged dance artists.

Classical ballet is a time-honored dance form that teaches grace, precision, and expression - a tradition that the BPDS has passed on through its programs that incorporates the Philippine National Ballet Syllabus to generations of dance students. Classical ballet encourages freedom of expression, builds confidence and self-discipline, and develops a sense of individuality, which would grow into an appreciation for the arts.

Modern dance explores dance movements beyond the set boundaries of classical ballet, incorporating influences from day-to-day movements, folk dances, martial arts and other sports, as well as contemporary/popular dance. Modern serves as a laboratory for emerging dancers and choreographers, allowing the discovery of new artists in dance.

Staying on top of the latest in popular dance, the Ballet Philippines Dance School also offers courses in Hip Hop and Jazz dance. Students discover different rhythms and grooves of movement, shaping them into becoming well-rounded dancers.

The Summer Dance Workshop also offers a weekly Lecture Series, in keeping with the BP Dance School’s holistic approach to dance education. Through these sit-down talks, students have the opportunity to interact with artists of different fields and learn how aspects of their art form can relate to and enhance one’s dancing.

The 48th CCP Summer Dance Workshop starts on April 17, 2016 at BPDS-SM Aura Premier and on April 18, 2016 at BPDS-CCP. Students attend a minimum of 3 classes a week (for pre-ballet and elementary ballet students) to as much as 5 classes a week, including workshop rehearsals for its culminating performances at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) on May 20 and 21.

Summer classes will also be held in the newly opened BP Dance School branches in Greenhills Theatre Mall and Victoria Sports, Quezon City. Classes start on April 4 and end on May 31.

The Ballet Philippines Dance School is the professional training ground of the country’s most promising young talents in dance. With a unique curriculum that encompasses various dance styles and techniques, the systematized method and approach to instruction takes highly into account children’s anatomy and psyche at various ages and levels so that the training is physically safe, technically effective and artistically enriching for all students.

The Ballet Philippines Dance School is located at the following venues:

BPDS-CCP:             Ground Floor, Cultural Center of the Philippines, CCP Complex,

Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

                        Call (02) 832-3689 (Tina)

BPDS-SM Aura Premier:

6th Floor, Unit 602B, SM Aura Premier, 26th Street Corner

McKinley Parkway Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

                        Call (02) 531-4436 (Annabelle)

BPDS-Greenhills:

F&B-5, Arts Plaza, Greenhills Theatre Mall, San Juan

                        Call 0915 630-6968 (Meann)

BPDS-Victoria Sports:

Victoria Sports, 799 EDSA Southbound, South Triangle,

Quezon City

                        Call (02) 832-3689 (Tina)

Connect to the Ballet Philippines Dance School online through the following social media networks:

Facebook:    www.facebook.com/balletphilippines

Twitter:          @balletph

Instagram:    @balletphilippines

YouTube:     balletph

To join in the Ballet Philippines conversation, use our official hashtags: #balletph, #bpdanceschool

Ballet Philippines Kicks Off The 47th Season With Firebird and Other Ballets

After the recent Dance Manila and Dance Cup, Ballet Philippines opens its 47^th season. BP is not only the oldest ballet company in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia. Wings is the theme for this season. The season kicks off starting with Firebird which is the suitable for the season’s theme.  It is one of the known ballet dances that is popular in the ballet world.

Firebird will be choreographed by Mr. Birkadze and the costumes are designed by Mr. Mark Higgins of Slims Fashion School.  For Mr. Birdkadze, he will present Firebird and recreate it to give it a different look and feel.

Just like Mr. Birkadze, Mr. Higgins designed the costumes in Asian context. Mr. Higgins wants to create costumes for Firebird that is already telling the story. It is the first time he is designing costumes for ballet. Each costume is made specifically for one wearer only. The dancers love the costumes and they can still dance without worrying about the costumes.

This only shows that this Ballet Philippines’ production of Firebird is truly a world class standard. Firebird will run on limited time from August 19-21 at CCP Main Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo). The rest of the line up this season are Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun in October, Awitin Mo at Isayaw Mo in December, Swan Lake in 2017 and more.

For more update about Ballet Philippines, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.