Love and dance with Romeo and Juliet

CEBU, Philippines - Known as one of the greatest love stories ever told, Romeo and Juliet will soon come to life as the oldest and most active performing arts organization here, Ballet Center of Cebu, will feature the full-length ballet masterpiece on August 24, 25, 31 and September 1.

The performances will be held at the Onstage Cebu, Ayala Cinema One beginning 6:30 p.m.

The performances will also celebrate the colorful career of the internationally acclaimed Premier Danseur Nicolas Pacaña who will play the role of Romeo. A proud Cebu City native, the play will be Pacaña’s farewell performance.

Pacaña is the Artistic Director of Atlanta Festival Ballet Company and Atlanta Festival Ballet School. He started dancing in Cebu City under Fe Sala Villarica before proceeding to Los Angeles for a scholarship with Patricia Stander. His professional debut then followed with the Honolulu City Ballet. He later joined the Boston ballet as a soloist then as a principal dancer.

Some the world’s most loved performances of Pacaña was his debut performance as Albrecht in Giselle, Espada and the Gypsy boy in Don Quixote, Taverna in Carmina Burana, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia in the Nutcracker.

In a press conference at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Pacaña shared how special Romeo and Juliet is to him, considering the many times he has portrayed the role in different countries. The upcoming performances, therefore, would be the perfect opportunity for him to play Romeo for the last time, he said.

He said, though, that he will remain active in the industry, but would most likely play supporting roles. He will also continue to be active in sharing his knowledge to younger generations.

Pacaña said he is excited to work with guest artist Katherine Trofeo, a superb Ballerina and principal dancer from the Ballet Philippines of Manila where she has received praise for roles such as Esmeralda in the Asian premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Kitri in Don Quixote, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, Ballerina in Paquita and Cio-Cio san in Madame Butterfly. 

The cast for these performances will include over a hundred adults and children with most-loved scenes like the famous balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet and exciting sword fighting scenes.

Together with Pacaña as Artistic Director is Atlanta Festival Ballet Company and Atlanta Festival Ballet school artistic director Gregory Aaron whose impressive career started after training under Southwest’s leading choreographer Susan Francis. He later studied at The University of El Paso, Ingeborg Heuser. He was then awarded a scholarship to study at the Houston Ballet Academy. He later joined the Hartford Ballet and The Boston Ballet.

At present, Aaron and Pacaña are co-artistic directors of Ballet Center Cebu, which is now on its 61st season.

Major sponsors for Romeo and Juliet are The Arts Council of Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu and the premiere 5-star hotel in Cebu City, Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, the official residence partner of Romeo and Juliet. 

Those interested to watch may contact the Ayala Center Cebu Concierge at (032) 516-2035 or (032) 231-5342 or may visit www.ayalamalls.com.ph or “like” the official Ayala Center Cebu on facebook (www.facebook.com/AyalaCebu).