MANILA, Philippines - This December, Ballet Philippines is excited to stage The Sleeping Beauty after more than 20 years. Last performed in 1988 with then CCP artist-in-residence Lisa Macuja and BP principal dancers Cecile Sicangco and Nonoy Froilan in the lead, the production also featured Latvian ballet dancer Aivars Leimanis as its international guest artist.
This time, the staging will feature BP ballet master Victor Ursabia as re-stager, and principal dancers Carissa Adea, Candice Adea and Katherine Trofeo as Princess Aurora, and Jean Marc Cordero in the role of Prince Desire. The show will run from Dec. 2 to 11.
The performances will kick off with a fundraiser gala night on Dec. 2 featuring international guest artist Nobuo Fujino partnering our very own ballerina, USA International Ballet Competition silver medalist Candice Adea. The Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Jeffrey Solares will perform the music of Tchaikovsky live.
Born in Japan, Fujino studied at the Egawa Ballet School in Kobe, Japan. He won a scholarship to the Australian Ballet School by winning the Idemitsu Scholarship Award at the 1995 Asian Pacific Ballet Competition. In 1997, he joined the Hong Kong Ballet and became principal dancer in 2002, and joined the Australian Ballet in 2005 before returning to Hong Kong in 2008.
The role of the Prince from The Sleeping Beauty is one that is quite special to Fujino, as it was the role he was performing when he was announced to become principal dancer for Hong Kong Ballet. He has performed the role just once more after that.
“This character ‘the prince’ is well known as ‘prince charming,’ who was chosen to give a kiss to awake the sleeping princess. So the most difficult thing for me is to interpret the character as a prince that has no background. He is a simple ‘prince charming’ and I always try to imagine what a ‘perfect man’ would be,” he says.
“I’m glad we have this opportunity to work with a foreign dancer. It’s a different experience to see his process and how he works,” says Candice Adea. “It’s very inspiring. It’s also a good way for Philippine dance to be known all over the world,” she adds. After seeing dancers from all over the world during her stint in international competition, she has come to the conclusion that Filipinos are not far behind world standards, and that more dancers should have the chance to learn from the best of the world.
As far as ballets are concerned, The Sleeping Beauty is an archetype for the classical type. Classical ballet is known for its unique features and textures, such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions. Classical ballet is graceful and flowing with precise movements; the themes it projects are traditional ones such as the triumph of good over evil, and the proverbial power of love.
“It’s exciting and very challenging at the same time because it’s the most classical and straight, square kind of ballet. The tradition of classicism is boxed in that ballet,” says seasoned veteran, principal dancer Katherine Trofeo about The Sleeping Beauty. “Maybe that’s why it hasn’t been done in quite a while.”
The Christmas season couldn’t be a better time to stage this timeless classic. With the family close together, sharing holiday cheer and togetherness, catching an uplifting ballet is a great way to shake up the normal Christmas routine.
We all know that this story concludes with a happy ending; there’s no surprise there. But there is a certain magic witnessing the way the ballet unfolds and reaches that conclusion. And that’s something everyone can look forward to.
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The Dec. 2 gala night is for the benefit of the Noordin Jumalon Dance Scholarship Fund. Tickets for the Gala are P1,500 for orchestra side, P2,000 for premier orchestra side, P18,000 for a parterre box (seats 6), and P12,000 for a lower box (seats 6). Regular tickets range from P200 to P600 on matinees, and P400 to P1,200 on evening shows.
The Sleeping Beauty will have 17 performances from Dec. 2 to 11. For more details visit www.balletphilippines.org. Buy tickets online and get exclusive promos and free tickets to BP’s next production, Wagas. For tickets call Ticketworld at 891- 9999; Ballet Philippines at 551-1003, 624-5701; CCP Box Office at 832-3704.
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E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@gmail.com.