Ballet Manila brings back ‘Swan Lake’
MANILA, Philippines - Ballet Manila celebrates its classical roots as it brings back the iconic Swan Lake, with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and music by Peter Tchaikovsky.
The gala on Nov. 15, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Aliw Theater features guest artists Maxim Chaschegorov and Katherina Markowskaja of the Bavarian State Ballet. They will also perform on Nov. 16, Sunday, 3 p.m.
Other shows are slated on Nov. 14, Friday, 1 p.m.; Nov. 15, Saturday, 11 a.m and 3 p.m.; and Nov. 16, Sunday, 11 a.m. Ballet Manila’s finest ballerinas Mylene Aggabao, Dawna Mangahas and Abigail Oliveiro will be also taking on the challenging dual role of Odette and Odile in the ballet classic.
In Swan Lake, Prince Siegfried meets and falls in love with Odette who is cursed to become a swan at night. But he is tricked by the evil Rothbart into falling for Odile, the Black Swan, whom he mistakes for Odette. Siegfried realizes his mistake and asks for Odette’s forgiveness. Together, the reunited lovers jump into the lake, break the spell on the other girls-turned-swans and vanquish the pair of Rothbart and Odile, before ascending to the heavens above Swan Lake.
The dual role of Odette/Odile is regarded as one of the most difficult roles in the classical ballet repertoire. “Swan Lake was first choreographed to feature two ballerinas — one to dance as Odette, and the other as Odile. Both roles later came to be danced by just one person,” says prima ballerina and Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde who danced her final full-length performance of Swan Lake in 2011.
“It’s a quite a superhuman feat and really demanding on your stamina,” she explains. “Another challenge is to transform into two completely different characters — the lyrical, vulnerable Odette and the seductive and cunning Odile.”
Ballet Manila’s 19th performance season is presented by the Manila Broadcasting Company and sponsored by Aliw Theater and Star City, along with ACS Manufacturing Corporation (Pride and Shield Bath Soap), First United Travel, BPI Express Credit, Island Rose, Ralph’s Wines and Spirits, Krispy Kreme, Hen Lin, Papa John’s Pizza and Crunchybelly by Carlos Kitchen. For tickets and other inquiries, call Ballet Manila at 525-5967 or 400-0292, e-mail info@balletmanila.com.ph or visit www.balletmanila.com.ph; or call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit ticketworld.com.ph.
