Dancer Diaspora Holiday Edition

 

The Holiday Season has always been a busy time for ballet dancers all over the globe. It is a timeless tradition for most companies to have a universal explosion of Nutcracker performances. By itself, this has brought so much joy to so many families. The past month, however, has highlighted something special, unique, and at the same time bittersweet. All over the world, Filipinos claimed the titular roles of the holiday classic. While there have been many Filipinos who have danced a gazillion Nutcrackers, this one stands out because it emphasizes the reality of the consequences of the dancer diaspora. Through the years, for one reason or another, our local artists have chosen to run after glossy dreams of being an international ballet artist. But this last decade, I believe trumps the Disney dancer migration we encountered in the early 2000s. It didn’t start from the pandemic, however it was the last straw did practically pushed the dancers out of the country because of the loss of opportunities here. The sheer number of dancers the Philippines lost was astounding.  A conservative estimate would be around ten homegrown dancers flying off to different parts of the world. While it highlights that there are many reasons for dancers here to want a life outside the Philippines, it also highlights that there is an appetite for the kind of magical dancing the Filipinos can offer. Our homegrown dancers stood tall and claimed significant roles in the Nutcracker. While I miss seeing these dancers perform here in our local theaters, it fills me with pride to see them enjoying the global limelight. They certainly are collectively giving the Philippines a good name. 

Mikaela Santos Photography By Erica Marquez Jacinto 

The top of the list has to be Mikaela Santos. This beautiful ballerina began her ballet journey with iconic ballet educator Effie Nanas. She gained attention in the competition circle finishing 2nd in the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Ballet Competition and top 15 in the World Ballet Competition. She joined the Philippine Ballet Theatre as an apprentice briefly but went on to join Atlanta Ballet. She has been dancing as a full company member since 2018. Her last performance in the Philippines was back in 2019 in Entablado, a gala featuring all the products of Ballet Philippines Alumni in celebration of the Company’s 50th anniversary. She left an imprint with her Black Swan Variation showing off her polished technique. Consistent with multiple pirouettes, strong charisma, and beautifully elongated lines, she showed then that she was born to be a star. The audience certainly agreed.The best validation that she has arrived was Santos being featured in the Dance Magazine's 25 to watch out for this 2023. The icing on the cake for Santos was her being picked to perform on opening night in Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker.  She was the poster girl for this ballet, the most featured Marie and Sugarplum even though she shared the role with three other dancers. I have no doubt in my mind that she gained a stronger following because of this. Santos is soaring and I can’t wait to see how far she can go. 

Luis Cabrera Photo From Hong Kong Ballet Page Photography by Condrad Dy-Liacco

Garry Corpuz Photo from Hong Kong Ballet  Photography by Conrad Dy-Liacco

In Hong Kong, two Filipinos have been making a name for themselves. Both moved to Hong Kong way before the pandemic. Both gentlemen’s careers are deeply rooted in Ballet Philippines. Garry Corpuz joined Hong Kong Ballet in 2017 and rose the ranks until he was promoted this year to Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Ballet. The company has entrusted so many meaty roles to Corpuz  He has danced alongside big stars like Iana Salenko, Mathew Golding, and Maria Kotchekova to name a few. In this run, he performed as Snow King and Cavalier among others. Luis Cabrera joined the Company in 2015  and was promoted to Coryphee in 2019. But like Corpuz, he too has been a valued member of the Company albeit in a different way. He has been the Company’s go-to guy for anything contemporary. He has also forayed into choreography which has elevated his status in  Hong Kong significantly.  This year he takes on the role of Nutcracker Prince among others. These two men have been great examples of hard work, diligence, and commitment. Having seen them grow with the Company, they have had to overcome so many challenges to stand out in such a diverse and powerful Company. Both are at the top of their game but I’m sure there is more to look forward to. 

   

  

Joan Sia and Elpidio Magat Photography by Artistyne

               

Real-life couple Joan Sia and Elpidio Magat are enjoying the spotlight. The two were former principal dancers of Ballet Manila. Both have essayed the titular roles of Nutcracker Prince and Sugarplum Fairy many times but I think this one would be remembered as one for the books. Sia and Magat performed with their new ballet family, Florida Ballet. Scoring the lead says a lot as they are very new in the Company. To be awarded this privilege so early in the game gives me hope that they will shine as brightly in Florida as they have here in the Philippines. 

Denise Parungao Phtoography by Caroline Habib

                           

Eunice Suba By Caroline Habib

Denise Parungao, former Principal Dancer of Ballet Philippines, joined New Jersey Ballet in 2022. Almost instantly she was given a chance to perform in the Company’s most critical pieces. She has had a chance to tackle choreography by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, and Harrison Ball. With a strong season under her belt, she has caught the attention of critics and balletomanes alike. She shared the role of Sugarplum fairy with another Filipina in the Company Eunice Suba. Two Filipinas doing Principal roles just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of pride. 

                                  

David Lopena Photography by Risa Mochizuki

New Jersey Ballet newbie Bryan  Sevilla, former Ballet Manila Soloist also snatched the role of Cavalier. After a short stint with Springfield Ballet, he joined the Company just recently. He also shared the role with another promising Filipino David Lopena. While the four Filipinos were not paired with each other, their casting says a lot about artistic diversity and representation. 

Eugene Obille Photography by Erica Marquez Jacinto 

                                

Victor Maguad Photography by Erica Marquez Jacinto 

Lastly, two sleek male dancers formerly from Ballet Philippines are making a mark in Sacramento Ballet. Eugene Obille took on the Nutcracker Prince in 2022 and recently performed the role of Snow King. Who could forget  Victor Maguad ?! He was BP's reliable Principal dancer who danced all the premium roles in the company’s repertoire. He took on the top role this season and I’m sure he was a sight to behold. 

As these Filipino dancers continue to give joy to audiences with their extraordinary talent and dedication, their success becomes a beacon of hope and pride for the Philippines. Their achievements speak loudly about the enduring spirit of the Filipinos. It tells an inspiring story of passion and resilience. Their beautiful stories will affirm to the next generations that dreams indeed come true. Their journeys will be like footprints in the sand, a path that many would want to follow.  These developments of course are bittersweet because their success means they are not accessible to our local audiences. But I am hopeful that they remember to give back one way or another to the dance community that nurtured them. You can still be nationalistic in spirit even if you are a million miles away. Dancer diaspora and worse permanent migration is sad but it will almost always give you a gift.  Santa definitely delivered this year. They will definitely inspire our local dancers. I’ll take their success as a silver lining, a banner of pride for the Filipinos. Bravo Filipino.

Luis Cabrera's Baptism of Fire

Photo from Hong Kong Ballet Page 

Hong Kong Ballet has always been part of my travel considerations. If my memory serves me right, I've seen at least one show from each season for the last five or more  years.   Through the years they have created so  many beautiful memories of art but nothing compares to days  you get to sit in that audience and see Filipinos shine. There is a robust flurry of Adrenalin that occupies me when our  very own Filipinos take on that massive Hong Kong Cultural Center Theater. In the past, I silently cheered for Carlos Pacis who was a refreshing  bravura danseur  who colored that stage passionately.  I  thoroughly enjoyed the journey of one of our laureled ballerinas Candice Adea as Soloist of  Hong Kong Ballet. My heart was overjoyed to see her at her very best. I've had the pleasure of witnessing former BP dancer   Luis Cabrera's first season with Hong Kong Ballet and was impressed that he stood out nicely with his schooled modern technique and unique earthy style.Thankfully, destiny would ensure that there always be a Filipino to watch out for.  Former Ballet Philippines artist Gary Corpus recently joined the company and I have no doubt that his stay will be just as fruitful. In my point of view, the  Company seems to have  been very good to our Kababayans, providing them with good experience, artistic opportunities  and priceless mentorship from international stars. But  this year is  is a game changer. Not only do we currently have two Filipinos with the Company, we  have something new to celebrate. 

Luis Cabrera
Photo by Conrad Dy Liacco from Hong Kong Ballet Page 

Hong Kong Ballet has an annual choreographer's showcase pretty much structured like Neo Filipino, Bagong Sayaw or Koryolab of CCP. It is an annual effort to encourage their dancers to evolve as dancers and at the same time explore choreography. Historically, it has been the launchpad for choreographers in Hong Kong since the 1980's. The Company accepts applications from their dancers, screens their initial concepts and ideas and picks the most promising ones to mount in the show.  In July of this year, I was ecstatic to see in the press release that our very own  Luis Cabrera was accepted into the program.The selected choreographers were  mentored in the aspects of mounting choreography, music, lighting, costume design and production design. Joining the Company's new artistic director Septime Webre in the panel of mentors  is Yuri Ng of  YatPo Singers and Anna Chan Head of Dance of Peforming Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. This is apart from the company's very own talent pool who are  very much involved in making the choreographers' vision a reality. Needless to say it is a very good opportunity  for Cabrera to make a mark for himself as a Choreographer. This opportunity however does come without a challenge. It is very much like a baptism of fire as it is actually his first attempt to create work showcasing commissioned work with  professional dancers. Even with his extensive schooling from Philippine High School of the Arts, Ballet Philippines and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, I reckon the word easy still  would not be appropriate for developing  his international debut.  

According to Cabrera, his first step was to find inspiration. As he explained, he was initially drawn to the  movie "Schindler's List" . His piece is in no way a representation of the movie but touches on the recurrent issue of  death and puncturing feeling of loss. With the piercing quality of the music he explored  how loss and fear  can put you at a crossroad. Will the struggle hold you back or push you forward?Will the pain complete you or break you? In this piece he attempts to translate the abstract concept of loss in movement. His piece will be performed by  Principal Dancer Ll Jiabo, Soloist LIU Miao Miao, Coryphee Shunsuki Arimizu,  artists Forrest Oliveros, Henry Seldon and Liang Yonglin. His piece debuts at the Choreographer's Showcase on September 15  and runs until the 17th at the Studio Theater of  the Hong kong Cultural Center. 

Luis Cabrera
Photo By Tim Wong
From Hong Kong Ballet FB Page 

While his status in the Company is already enough for  the Philippines to be proud of him, it is equally stirring to see an international company recognize his potential as a creator of dance. Truly this one in a lifetime chance is one that brings pride to the Philippines. May his baptism of fire be from a radiant  candle  that can  illuminate his path. May its flickers of light be just the right amount to temper his skill and his passion so that he can move forward gloriously.   I wish him luck and encourage others to send a prayer or two to the heavens above for a flawless staging of his vision. His success after all is our success too. Cheers to a Filipino pride. Cheers to Philippine dance.  

Snippets of his piece published in Hong Kong Ballet 's page