Viva Fe Sala-Villarical!

She is a premiere luminary of classical dance, not only inthis city but also in the whole country or even the world.

Her personal ways are evident of the beautiful values the art form offers: sweet, gracious, poised. Fe Sala-Villarica does not just preach ballet — she lives it!

This lady’s artistic passion is amazing. Her energy and enthusiasm remain the same as or perhaps flourished even more than when she was just in her teens. At 88, Madame Fe is not past her prime; she is still at her best.

The ballet concert entitled Reflections last October 8 and 9 at the Onstage of Ayala Center Cebu was the latest addition to her already long list of splendid productions. Despite the brief electrical power trip-off in the middle of the show on opening night, the choreography works of Fe Sala-Villarica held the audience to their seats, wanting to see more. And, indeed, there was more to see.

The stage was set simply, without the mechanized contraptions and electronic effects that have since become commonplace in major productions. Except for the opening Egyptian scene where there was a pharaoh’s throne and corresponding scenic backdrop, there were only shades of color and, at times, patterns of light throughout the show. Nonetheless, there was magic every time the dancers would enter.

The audience was obviously enthralled, and behaved appropriately. Everyone was quiet, except for moments when admiration of the ongoing performance could not be contained. Every time, the applause, though generous, was somehow decorous.

Everything went in the proper order, as is usual in any Arts Council of Cebu event. There were no harried looks on the faces of people running the show, no noticeable panicky movements either. If there was any last-minute unease, it might have been neatly tucked away backstage.

But I doubt if there ever was any fretting backstage, at all. There was, at least, no hint of it whatsoever in the show. I could only suppose the possibility of it since I knew that most of the performers were either students or daytime employees that had limited time for rehearsals.

Madame Fe is stern and exacting, no doubt. All consummate artists are. Yet while such traits of hers may be quite a weight for her dancers to bear through the rehearsals, these are always well vindicated in the actual performance.

Beginners in classical dance do get bored sometimes. One doesn’t become a qualified ballerina in a few sessions. That is why persistent teachers like Fe Sala-Villarica are needed, to keep students at it until they develop real interest to keep going on their own.

Many people think that with modern-day divas that hop and tumble on the stage while belting out song numbers, classical dance is becoming passé. Some parents think so, as well. I don’t agree.

Pop dancers may do all the calisthenics and “death defying” moves, but without proper grounding in classical dance a dancer will likely lack the necessary grace. Her timing may be somewhat imprecise. And the whole act can appear like a mere mechanical feat.

In ballet, the movements are smooth and seemingly effortless. Of course, every move is difficult to do and is perfected only after long hours of practice. And that’s precisely the marvelous thing about it—ballet dancers make it appear like all fun, like the movements are not structured and just flow out of their moment-to-moment emotional dispositions.

And the sense of timing that ballet training emphasizes is as useful in life as on the dance floor. Many times even a pleasant word said at the wrong moment will not ring right. A kind deed extended out of time is worthless.

I am no dancer. The only real dancing I’ve ever done were those folkdances back in grade school when we were made to entertain some visiting important officials.

But I enjoy watching a dance presentation. A dance, to me, is a physical depiction of emotions or of imagination. I can relate to it and, thus, while watching, I am not only spectator but performer as well, although I remain in the audience.

My appreciation for classical dance and of its many practical benefits all the more grows from knowing ballet dancers in real life. Most ballet dancers I know have good physical forms, even at old age. They have good command of themselves, acting with visible confidence and with such fluidity of movement that they always stand out in a crowd.

Madame Villarica has embraced classical dance for almost a hundred years now. Other people, ordinary people, would certainly grow so tired of doing it that long and decide to rest. Not Fe Sala-Villarica. She isn’t tired of ballet and, probably, isn’t longing to rest.

For an artist of her caliber, dedication and endurance are rare. Her contemporaries have long retired, while she is continually looking forward to doing another show.

Back in 1960, Mrs. Villarica founded the Arts Council of Cebu, with a department for each artistic discipline: music, dance, literature, drama, visual arts, sculpture and architecture. Through the years, the Arts Council has held on to the mission that she had originally set forth for it. And all these years this indefatigable lady is always there, both as beacon and as participant in the journey herself.

In the words of Jaime Picornell, past president and current adviser of the Arts Council of Cebu, in a tribute to Madame Fe at the opening of Reflections: “I would need all night to sum up what Mrs. Villarica has done for all of us. It is not just ballet, but a concern for the arts and culture in general, and an all-encompassing drive to propagate arts appreciation. The best one can do to promote the arts is by supporting them with good example. This has been a life-long passion of Mrs. Villarica.”

It is my great personal honor to know this relentless lady, always my great pleasure to watch her productions. She is my hero. My only regret, though, is to have come too late in the day and not having had the opportunity to see this prima ballerina do her own dance.

I praise God for giving the world a Fe Sala-Villarica in my lifetime. To fellow artists, she is a shining inspiration. For us all, her artistic works provide a much-needed respite from our growingly weary everyday world — to remind us that amid present ills, hardships and uncertainties, life is still very beautiful.

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