Stella Abrera leads American Ballet stars in the dance event of the year

Stella Abrera — the first Filipino-American to reach the top rank of principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), the prestigious, world-renowned national ballet company of the United States — is coming to Manila for a rare series of special shows from April 5 to 7, together with eight of her fellow ABT ballet stars.

Stella considers this as another chance to give back to the land of her birth. When she was in the country to do Giselle for Ballet Philippines in 2014, she founded Steps Forward for the Philippines to help in the restoration of a school in Guiuan, the town hit first and hardest by the super typhoon Haiyan.  This time, her show “An Intimate Evening with Stella Abrera & American Ballet Stars” is being presented for the benefit of CENTEX (Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education), Ayala Foundation’s flagship program providing holistic, quality education for economically disadvantaged children.

But perhaps her greatest gift to the Philippines is being the best artist she can be — a role model whose accomplishments have given Filipinos here and abroad a sense of pride and a source of endless inspiration.  Although she felt at home in the ballet world where she practically grew up, Abrera realized that there were many aspiring Filipino dancers as well as other people of color who felt excluded from this rarefied world of dance. Ballet has always traditionally been a predominantly white affair so when a Filipino-American like Abrera makes it as principal in one of the world’s leading ballet companies, the whole dance world just takes notice. 

It was not an easy path. Born in Manila, Abrera grew up in different cities around the world — thanks to her civil engineer father’s job that brought them from the United States to Brazil, Indonesia and Australia. One constant was her love for dance and her parents’ encouragement, enrolling her in dance classes wherever they were based, starting at age five in Pasadena, California. She also has fond memories of listening to her mother playing classical pieces on the piano, helping her develop her musicality.

“We’re so grateful and honored to perform for Filipino audiences, and we cannot wait to share with you the special numbers we have lined up for you for the two evenings,” shares Stella Abrera. “We do invite everyone to celebrate arts, culture and the love of ballet.

Her life-changing break came when she studied the Royal Academy of Dance method in Sydney and travelled to London to compete at the Royal Academy of Dance’s Adeline Genée Awards where she won the gold medal in 1995. This was where she was noticed by Ross Stretton who offered her the opportunity to audition for the American Ballet Theatre in New York. Accepted as an apprentice, she was promoted to the corps de ballet in just three months, receiving accolades from critics like Anna Kisselgof of the New York Times who said that Abrera “gave each shape a gorgeous fullness” in Airs, choreographed by Paul Taylor.  Promoted to soloist in 2001, she was memorable in roles like Myrta in Giselle, Gamzatti in La Bayadère and Hermia in The Dream. 

But after enjoying a few years of exceptional performances, which firmly established her at ABT as well as in the dance world, she suffered a serious sciatic nerve injury that threatened to end her career in 2008. It was a painful and frustrating time when she became so weak that even old women with walkers in the street could outpace her.  Receiving treatment and therapy for almost two years, she vowed to return to dancing by regaining strength, doing daily ballet classes and practically relearning everything again. It was short of a miracle that she got back to where she left off and even went beyond, doing a triumphant Giselle in 2015 which was reported by the New York Times critic Alistair Macaulay: “The audience greeted her with the warmth usually reserved for the most revered ballerinas… her dancing was luminous and all of it was stylish and heartfelt; but above all in Act II, where the dead Giselle dances to save her lover from death, she made it clear that dance was a spiritual act. Her steps were filled with yearning for him and devotion to dance itself.” 

We saw her perform as the Lilac Fairy in La Belle Au Bois Dormant at the Opera Bastille in Paris in 2016 when she was already promoted to principal and this devotion was definitely evident. She has an effortless grace and presence on stage that is mesmerizing. You can’t imagine how we as well as other balletomanes are excited for her coming show.

“We are so grateful to have Stella join us for this unbelievable opportunity,” says Sofia Zobel Elizalde, committee chair for the benefit performance and founder of Steps Dance Studio, which is also hosting master classes by Abrera and her husband Sascha Radetsky from April 2 to 4. “She’s not only an amazing dancer and artist, but a true lady in every way. I am thrilled that the Filipino audience will get a chance to see her live and be inspired by her spirit.”

Sofia, who has always had a passion for theater and dance, which she believes is an often overlooked discipline in the country, feels “it’s important to have arts available to all students as it gives these children a chance to experience a strong discipline, learn a beautiful art form, and build their self-esteem.” Talented students at CENTEX with an aptitude for dance are given dance scholarships at STEPS.

Just as exciting for ballet aficionados are the ABT stars who will be making their debut on the Philippine stage. Gillian Murphy, whom we saw as an amazing Princess Aurora in the Paris show in 2016, is an acclaimed and multi-awarded principal dancer who created Clara, the Princess in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker and danced Odette-Odille in the ABT telecast of Swan Lake.  She has appeared as guest artist in several ballet companies around the world including a debut at the Mariinsky. 

Isabella Boylston, now famous as the ballet dancer double of Jennifer Lawrence in the film Red Sparrow, started ballet at age three and won a gold medal in 2001 at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in NYC. As principal, she regularly takes lead roles in the company’s repertory, aside from creating roles for new works. Like Abrera, she also contributes to education programs and scholarships for children in her hometown in Sun Valley, Idaho. 

A recipient of the Chris Hellman Dance Award, soloist Blaine Hoven created the Italian Prince in Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty and Don Zucchero in Whipped Cream as well as other roles in contemporary ABT productions. 

Roman Zhurbin, originally from Moscow, has done various roles for the company, from the High Brahmin in La Bayadere to Dr. Coppelius in Coppelia, aside from creating the Indian prince in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty and Alonso in The Tempest. 

Arron Scott, another soloist, had leading roles in Airs, Bach Partita and The Brahms-Haydn Variations. Catherine Hurlin was cited in the “Dancers to Watch” list when she played ABT’s Clara in Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker and has excelled in many succeeding performances like in a recent Don Quixote where she partnered with Skylar Brandt. 

Joo Won Ahn, originally from Wonju, Korea joined ABT after winning the gold medal at Youth America Grand Prix. He was praised by critics when he did a poignant pas de deux with Misty Copeland in Christopher Wheldon’s Thirteen Diversions.

Studying with the ABT school from age eight, Jose Sebastian has had extensive experience in various roles with the company and has been singled out for his clean, elegant lines, jumps and leaps.

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“An Intimate Evening with Stella Abrera & American Ballet Stars” will be staged at the Maybank Performance Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City from April 5 to 7.  April 5 at 7 p.m. is an open technical rehearsal for students only. Gala night show is on April 6 at 7 p.m. and the regular show is on April 7 at 7 p.m.  For tickets call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

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