Ballet Academy of Cebu stages ‘Clara and the Nutcracker Prince’

CEBU, Philippines —  Meghan Samonte has performed “The Nutcracker” around 50 times in her ballet career, and she has yet to get tired of doing so. She brought the 19th-century Russian story to life once more through Ballet Academy of Cebu’s (BAC) production of “Clara and the Nutcracker Prince,” staged January 11 and 12 at SM Seaside Centerstage.

It is a tale of Clara, a young girl who receives a nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift. As she sleeps, she dreams of her doll transforming into a prince who takes her on a magical journey. Just as their connection deepens, Clara wakes up, left to wonder if her extraordinary experience was real or a dream.

Samonte portrayed Clara, the central character, while Ballet Philippines’ Mark Anthony Balucay was the Nutcracker Prince.

“The Nutcracker” holds a special place in Samonte’s life and career. She recalled being introduced to the story through a televised 1970s version featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland when she started ballet at four years old under her mother’s guidance.

“I remember watching them, and they were so magical on stage. I really thought that Gelsey Kirkland played Clara really well,” she told The FREEMAN backstage after the show.

Samonte later became acquainted with the Bolshoi Ballet’s rendition, which influenced her staging of “Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.” She credits the story’s creator, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for making the tale of a girl and her magical nutcracker doll a timeless classic in the world of ballet.

“We don’t have those kinds of ballet pieces anymore where classical music was created for the story,” Samonte said.

“Clara and the Nutcracker Prince” differed from BAC’s previous production, “Beauty and the Beast” in terms of ambiance. While the latter was performed in the open atrium of SM Seaside, this production was staged in the Centerstage.

“It’s definitely a different experience, but I equally love both,” said Samonte. “It’s an amazing opportunity for me to let Cebuanos watch a ballet show in different ways.”

Usually, a ballet story is conveyed through dance rather than spoken dialogue. Samonte believes that Tchaikovsky’s compositions not only guide the audience in understanding the narrative but also allow for varied interpretations, shaped by how the dancers connect with the music.

“In ballet, it’s all about body language and energy, and Tchaikovsky’s music allows that,” Samonte explained. “A ballerina I look up to once said that we have to ensure our movements vibrate with logic and truth so the audience can clearly feel whether the character is scared or in love. Ballet is the closest thing to a moving painting because the story can mean something different to everyone.”

When asked how the Russian classic can resonate with Cebuanos, Samonte pointed to their natural creativity and longing to dream.

“Everything that was presented started with a dream of mine and so many others at BAC. The whole ballet is about a little girl who has a dream, and that story reminds me of the wonderful things we can do in the art scene here in Cebu. In order to be happy in life, we just have to follow our dreams,” she said.

Samonte shared that BAC’s next production will be “Aladdin.” Like their take on “Beauty and the Beast,” it will combine classical renditions of the Disney musical numbers with other classical pieces.