New Choreography about Women Headline Ballet Philippines’ Inamorata + Restaging of Encantada at EK

Ballet Philippines’ second offering for its 42nd Season: Faces of Eve is Inamorata. This is a mixed bill featuring both classical and contemporary pieces about woman as the beloved. The show will run on September 23 to 25 at the CCP Main Theater.

Inamorata showcases three classical ballets: 

• The Dying Swan, the eternal solo about a magnificent woman in her last breath, created by Michel Fokine to the music of Camille Saint-Saens for the legendary Anna Pavlova 

• Harlequinade, a comedic love pas de deux with roots in the great Italian comedies, choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Riccardo Drigo 

• Flames of Paris, a bravura pas de deux from the ballet set in the French Revolution choreographed by Vasily Vainonen with music by Boris Asafiev, which is now performed by the strongest dancers in world-class ballet competitions.

Aside from these classics, audiences will get to watch new works by some of the country’s top choreographers:

Artistic director Paul Alexander Morales will be choreographing about the Woman of Eternal Beauty set to the music of Delfin Colomé, former Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines. “Amar Como El Mar,” which the late ambassador dedicated to his wife Elena, who graciously offered the music to Ballet Philippines, is also the name of Morales’ piece. Set around the sea and sand, as suggested by the music, the ballet also includes the poetry of Nicolas Pichay.

Ballet Philippines’ resident choreographer Alden Lugnasin will be doing a solo about the trials and torment an OFW goes through. Like countless Filipina women, she goes through life in constant worry about her loved ones. This goes complementary to Sydney-based choreographer Novy Bereber’s “Nanay,” which is about the impact of a woman leaving her child behind to work abroad. All lives are affected: the child’s, the woman’s and the guardian’s.

Denisa Reyes, former artistic director and sole female in the group of choreographers, is choreographing about her deep concern for the plight of most women in the country, who are left with little choice and are saddled with the difficulties of raising a family in dire conditions. She hopes to empower women against modern forms of oppression

Dwight Rodrigazo, artistic director of DancePull Company of Bacolod, is doing a perfectly synchronized pas de deux entitled “Moving Two,” inspired by two points of light moving in perfect sync, sometimes separating but always complementary.

Carlo Pacis, winner of last year’s Gawad Buhay Outstanding Choreography in a Dance Production, is once again working on a new piece with the company. Using the music of Schumann, with soprano Camille Lopez Molina singing and relating to the dancers, Pacis’ piece is about romantic love’s different stages as seen through the eyes of the man.

The winner of the 2nd Ballet Philippines Choreographer’s Cup, Don Adrian Obviar will be performing his winning piece, Battle of the Sexes, which shows how a woman is putting up a good fight in this male dominated society.

The new pieces will have costumes designed by top Filipino choreographers Ito Curata, Rajo Laurel and Jojie Lloren, with production design by Leeroy New, lighting by Jonjon Villareal and musical direction by Jed Balsamo.

*Inamorata will have only five performances: September 23 at 3 pm and 8 pm; September 24 at 3 pm and 8 pm and September 25 at 3 pm. For subscriptions, promos and updates, visit Ballet Philippines’ website at www.balletphilippines.org or their Facebook page at facebook.com/balletphilippines. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999; CCP Box Office at 832-3704; and Ballet Philippines at 551-1003/345-6601.

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Edit: Sept. 20 -- Speaking of Ballet Philippines, those who missed the staging of Encantada last month will have a chance to catch it for free on Oct. 2 at Enchanted Kingdom!


Press Release: Enchanted Kingdom Presents Ballet Philippines’ Encantada sa EK

Enchanted Kingdom, the country’s first and only premier theme park is set to stage another world-class performance for the16th Anniversary celebration this October – Ballet Philippines’ Encantada sa EK on October 2 at the Eldar’s Tent, 5:00 PM.

Encantada, an Agnes Locsin contemporary dance piece, is a ballet production that encompasses man’s destruction of nature and its consequences. The multi-awarded Germany-based dancer Georgette Sanchez will retell the role of Encantada as the sovereign spirit of the mountains.

This interpretative dance masterpiece is EK’s anniversary treat to all its park guests for free.

Witness arts at its finest at the magical world of Enchanted Kingdom.

Log onto www.enchantedkingdom.ph for more details.