Back to Back Ballets this Holiday Season

It dawned on me that every company just like a snowflake is gloriously unique even if they fall to the ground at the same time and in the same way. I would think this will hold true for the back to back ballets following Philippine Ballet Theatre's recently concluded Nutcracker. There's more than enough reason to see both Ballet Philippines' and Ballet Manila's year-enders.

Up first is Ballet Manila's world premiere of Snow White crafted by Lisa Macuja Elizalde. This is her second attempt to independently create a full ballet. Packaged as a children's ballet it promises a colorful display of mystic magic. A fairy tale with a happy ending should be fun for the young and old. The  ballet's music arranged by Von De Guzman is a medley of different musical inspirations including nursery rhymes. This is meant to captivate audiences as young as two years old. Casted as Snow White are Katherine Barkman, Hee Won Cho and Joan Sia. The three beauties are so different from each other with fine qualities to be excited about. I wonder which one will be the fairest of them all? Paired  with them are  Joseph Phillips, Romeo Peralta and Elpidio Magat whose princely nature will likely awaken not just Snow White but the audience as well. Snow White's premiere is on November 25, 2017 and closes on December 3, 2017 at the Aliw Theatre.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BALLET MANILA 

Coinciding with Ballet Manila's second weekend is the Filipinized version of Nutcracker offered by Ballet Philippines. BP has had a very long history with Nutcracker and both Alice Reyes and Edna Vida have presented their own versions in 1982 and 1987 respectively. The show will  feature the collaboration of National Artist Alice Reyes and Edna Vida which should be interesting. Using the original design of the late National Artist Salvador Bernal, Ballet Philippines will transport us to Christmas in the 1920's setting. The Company has invited Nobuo Fujino (formerly a Senior Artist at the Australian Ballet and Principal with Hong Kong Ballet) to dance the role of the Nutcracker Prince. He will be partnering Denise Parungao who plays the role of Sugarplum Fairy. Alternating with Parungao is resident guest artist Candice Adea and company member Jemima Reyes. They will be partnered by Lester Reguindin and Victor Maguad respectively.

PHOTO BY JOJO MAMANGUN COURTESY OF BALLET PHILIPPINES

   

Nobuo Fujino
PHOTO COURTESY OF BALLET PHILIPPINES

I fully expect the next couple of weeks to be filled with holiday cheer with fairy tales and happy endings coming our way. Encouraging everyone to join me in indulging in something joyful for a change. Take that trip to the theatre! See you there!