Dance and diplomacy

Osnabruck, Germany – In this historic city where the Treaty of Westphalia ended the Hundreds Years War of Europe, a Philippine performance did us proud.

Marchenballet, or Fairytale Ballet, produced and directed by ballerina Bettina Escaño, had Lord Mayor Hans-Jurgen Fip and his Lady, Ambassador and Mrs. Jose Abeto Zaide and the city’s who’s who filling the 600 seat-theater of Osnabruck. The ballet was a sell-out during its two weekend performance run.

Escaño was choreographer and ballerina of the fashion show-cum-operetta-cum-ballet, Pina@!Pilipina.com, which toured the German cities of Berlin, Hannover and Munich. This production was conceptualized by this author.

Marchenballet is Escaño’s second recital for the students of the Bettina Escaño ballet school, which she founded four years ago in Osnabruck. However, this year’s performance involved a cast of 150, giving it the proportion of a Cecille B. de Mille epic.

She chose the role for each student from fairy tales, like Snow White, Pinnocchio, Hansel and Gretel, and the like. It was also a clever way to fit in a range of talents, from kindergarten to highly more accomplished artists, into this unique show. For the finale, the ballerina danced herself the role of Cinderella, partnered by danseur Michael Hull, a ten-time world champion. And the shoe that Cinderella left behind? Her chaussure de ballet.

Marchenballet also featured a pas de deux executed by Amb. Zaide and Lord Mayor Fip. Earlier that Sunday morning, the Lord Mayor invited Amb. Zaide to sign the Golden Book in the presence of the city’s favored sons and members of the Filipino community. They exchanged books on the Philippines and Osnabruck. The Philippine book presented to the Osnabruck Lord Mayor was Leben wie dei Vogel Singen (Live as birds sing), a personal reminiscence of the love affair of Consul General Karl Heinz Stockheim with the Philippines.

After the show, Bettina and her husband Oliver Papoli-Barawati invited Amb. Zaide, the author, Lord Mayor and Lady Fip and members of the city’s glitterati and literati to lunch at the historic Wallhalla hotel.

To remember the occasion in good spirits, Amb. Zaide also presented the Lord Mayor with a bottle of fine Manila rum, while Oliver, Bettina’s husband, offered the gentlemen La Flor de Isabela coronas.