Ballet All-Stars

MANILA, Philippines - With its powerhouse team of behind-the-scene masters and on-stage dancers and singers, Rama Hari, the new adaptation of the pop ballet musical by Ballet Philippines, promises to be a cultural event.

“Rama Hari has always collaborated with the best Filipino artists,” says Margie Moran Floirendo, President of Ballet Philippines Foundation.

Alice Reyes, the legendary Ballet Philippines founder, who established the company as a national arts institution and was instrumental in the development of dance in the country, choreographed the ballet. The dancer, choreographer, and director founded the group and ran it for 20 years. She has returned to Manila to review the artistic aspects of the show and, of course, polish the movements of the dancers, fleshing out the motivation of every detail in the sequences.

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, one of the country’s most prolific composers, who has done numerous pop records, film scores, concerts, and theater musicals over the years, created the music for Rama Hari. His enchanting piece, “Magbalik Ka Na Mahal,” performed by original cast member Kuh Ledesma in 1980, has become the ballet’s most famous song.

National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, who is also a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, wrote the libretto or the text used in a musical work.

The late National Artist for Theater and Literature Rolando Tinio provided the English translation—the performance is in Filipino—that will appear as subtitles during the ballet.

And National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, who passed away in 2011, created the set and costume design.

Principal dancer Carissa Adea, who won the first prize in the Senior Women’s Division at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition, is Sita, while Jean Marc Cordero, who received the Special Jury Award also from the Helsinki dance tilt, plays Rama.

Pop sensations Christian Bautista and Karylle lend their mighty vocals in the regal roles of Rama and Sita, respectively, while Robert Seña, who was part of the original cast of Miss Saigon in London, steps in as the demon Ravana.

There will be added pressure as the new players will be measured against the brilliant performances of original dancers, Nonoy Froilan, Robert Medina, Effie Nanas, and Ester Rimpos, and singers Basil Valdes, Kuh, and Leo Valdez. But I am certain that this generation of ballet masters and vocalists in this latest production by the Ballet Philippines will give us all a good show!

With 10 performances from November 30 to December 9, Rama Hari will be staged at the CCP Main Theater. For tickets and inquiries, call Ballet Philippines at +623 551 10 03 or Ticketworld at +632 891 99 99. Visit www.ballet.ph or www.facebook.com/balletphilippines.  (FREEMAN)