Agnes Locsin’s ‘Encantada’ goes onstage anew

Set during the Spanish colonial era Philippines, the neo-ethnic Encantada will open the 42nd season of Ballet Philippines on Aug. 12-14. “Encantada showcases the mixture of paganism and Christianity in Philippine culture," BP Artistic Director Paul Alexander Morales Morales said at a recent press conference.

Encantada, which premiered in 1992 and was restaged in 1998, is the 1st full-length ballet major of Agnes Locsin, a former BP artistic director. It represents all the “Marias" in Philippine mythology and literature and their collective anger at man’s wanton destruction of the environment, and how life begins anew after the deluge. “I was lucky enough to be part of the cast when it was staged for the very first time. It was the last ballet I danced with her before leaving to study abroad," said Morales, who was sent by the British Council as a dance scholar to the Laban Center in London where he received a Diploma in Advanced Dance Theater. BP’s female principal dancer Candice Adea and international guest artist Georgette Sanchez alternate as the Encantada, while male principal dancer Jean Marc Cordero plays the role of Estranjero. Also appearing are Katherine Trofeo and Carissa Adea, alternating as Babaylan. Joey Ayala and the original members of the Bagong Lumad, including Bayang Barrios, will provide live accompaniment for all the evening performances. ‘Faces of Eve’ Margie Moran Floirendo, BP President, says the officers and staff decided to highlight women’s concerns this season to mark the global celebration of the 100th year of women suffrage last March 8, 2011. “The theme of the 42nd Ballet Philippines season is ‘Faces of Eve.’ We chose this season’s repertoire based on the many faces of a woman," says Floirendo, who won the 1973 Miss Philippines and Miss Universe competitions, A former ballet student of Julie Borromeo at her Dance Arts Studio, Floirendo said the audience will see different facets of women in Encantada, Inamorata, The Sleeping Beauty, and Wagas. “We have to balance our repertoire with what is commercial as well for us to survive. Last season, we achieved a 70 percent audience count. I see it as a great accomplishment. We need new audience," said Floirendo, who was elected BP president in 2009. She added she hopes to guide the BP until its 45th season and then give way to “new blood." In demand On Sept. 23-25, BP’s second offering of the season Inamorata goes on stage, Morales said. Inamorata, or “the woman with whom one is in love with," shows classics such as The Dying Swan, the immortal solo choreographed for the legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova set to the poignant music of Saint-Saens’ Le Cygne, the comedic love pas de deux from Harlequinade, and the bravura pas de deux from Flames of Paris. Morales said Filipino opera singers Rachelle Gerodias and Camille Lopez-Molina will accompany the all-new choreography by BP Resident Choreographer Alden Lugnasin, former BP Artistic Director Denisa Reyes, Dwight Rodrigazon, Novy Bereber, and Carlo Pacis. Filipino designers Rajo Laurel, Lulu Tan Gan, and Jojie Lloren are executing costumes for the Inamorata dancers. “In Inamorata, where we honor women as the beloved, we are excited about the heightened experience of dance paired with beautiful voices and cutting edge looks from our top designers," Morales said. While rehearsing for the 42nd season shows, Floirendo said BP dancers will also perform on Sept. 2 at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands the all-new pieces called Jamming with Dali ballet set against the provocative artworks of the famous painter Salvador Dali. Floirendo said they are touring the BP original Crisostomo Ibarra nationwide as part of its “commitment to reach out to the widest audience as possible." The ballet piece shows the transformation of Rizal’s famous character from “an aristocratic idealist to a revolutionary pragmatist, and his internal journey on his way home." “The BP had 90 performances last year, half of which was in Metro Manila and the other half in the provinces, which was supported by the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts. We performed even in malls and other venues. We are in demand," Floirendo said. She said the BP performed Crisostomo Ibarra in Silliman University in Dumaguete City on July 21-23 and Colegio de San Agustin in Bacolod City on July 25. The ballet piece will be shown to an international audience at the Singapore Airlines Theater at La Salle-SIA on Sept. 4. There will be two versions of the classic The Sleeping Beauty, which goes on stage Dec. 2-11. The children’s version will be shown during matinees while the “purely classical version" will be performed in the evening shows, Morales said. Former Hong Kong Ballet Principal Dancer Nobuo Fujino is featured as guest dancer in this year’s staging of The Sleeping Beauty. As the season finale, Floirendo said Lugnasin’s new work entitled Wagas, which is a retelling of the legend of Manda and Luyong, will be staged. - YA, GMA News All photos courtesy of Ballet Philippines