Light, love, death, dance, rock & roll

It might get loud. Loud in a good sense, what with bands such as Sandwich, Radioactive Sago Project and Dong Abay, among others playing in the house. It might get nostalgic since iconic figures in Philippine ballet make a sort of homecoming. It might get this, it might get that, but it will surely get illuminating for all involved in Ballet Philippines’ 44th season.

“The theme for this year is ‘IllumiNation’ since it’s all about expressing love through dance in several forms,” says Ballet Philippines (BP) president Margie Moran-Floirendo. “(Illuminating) also pertains to the stories we would tell in this season’s repertoire. We’re doing a cross-section of ballet genres, starting with the classical touchstone — Giselle.”

Showing from Aug. 16 to 18 at the CCP Main Theater, Giselle makes a strong opening statement on the classic beauty of ballet as it tells a timeless yet tragic love story that has resonated with different audiences through the years.

BP’s Ana Villa-Singson calls it a “story of love and death that is emotionally involving as it is technically demanding.”

Artistic director Paul Morales agrees. “The famous ballet remains iconic through the centuries for its great music, dance, and dramatic story elements. Giselle is ballet as we know it, but it’s also — for Ballet Philippines in particular — one very special piece.” 

BP’s first Giselle (2nd Act) was performed in 1979 with prima ballerina Natalia Makarova and the late Patrick Bissel. The first-ever full-length staging by Ballet Philippines was with Japanese prima ballerina Yoko Morishita who starred opposite Nonoy Froilan in 1982. 

“One of the country’s famous dancers, Anna Villadolid, is famous for Giselle. And in 1998, the last production of Giselle had Lisa Macuja, Toni Lopez-Gonzalez and Cecile Sicangco. It’s about a girl who loves to dance who fell in love with a wrong boy — a prince pretending to be poor. Parang LVN movie (laughs). Nonoy always says it’s his favorite ballet because it’s so emotional and it requires the dancers actually to find a sense of truth — not just to be showy, but to exist in the truth.” 

Taking on the challenging yet iconic role of Giselle this season are Carissa Adea, Katherine Trofeo, and Denise Parungao.

Rock Supremo — from Sept. 20 to 22 and 27 to 29 at the Little Theater in CCP — is in celebration of Andres Bonifacio’s 150th birth anniversary. It’s a rock ballet featuring some of the country’s top bands. People are quite curious as to how this rocks out. Mull this over: Gloc 9’s song is told from the point of view of Bonifacio’s itak.

Paul explains, “Bonifacio’s story is a bit tragic and there are many parts that are still a mystery.  The music and production will delve into that. The music — supported by RockEd and the National Historical Commission — will be available for free download. The full production, I think, will push the story and the music even more so that the students and the young generation will have a fresh take on Andres Bonifacio. We are a much younger country and we have a lot of history to go through, to digest and, perhaps, to understand.”

Acclaimed choreographer Edna Vida-Froilan returns to BP with a new ballet based on Dickens’ popular novel, A Christmas Carol, with Nonoy Froilan starring as Scrooge; while the seasonal gala The Art of Dance — a mixed bill of new and revived works from noted guest choreographers — features international pieces that showcase the company’s mastery of classical and contemporary ballet.

“With pieces ranging from classical to hip-hop, as well as contemporary dance theater all in one presentation, The Art of Dance showcases the best of dance in all its versatility,” Morales concludes.

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For inquiries, visit www.ballet.ph, e-mail info@ballet.ph, or call Ballet Philippines at 551-1003. For tickets and reservations, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.