National Artist Alice Reyes restages ‘Cinderella’ for Ballet Philippines

National Artist for Dance-elect Alice Reyes’ restaging of her beloved “Cinderella” from November 28 at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines has a grand serving of glitter and glamour, with the casting of Ballet Philippines president Margie Moran Floirendo and Isabelle Garachon, wife of the French Ambassador to the Philippines Gilles Garachon, in the role of Brunhilda, Cinderella’s step-mother.

In an interview, Reyes said that on top of the casting coup, among the highlights of the 2014 Cinderella is the “garden divertissement,” which includes dancing animals.

“In this version, I added something extra for children such as scenes full of animals that hopefully would bring them wonders. Cinderella should bring fantastic holiday cheer to everybody. Everybody likes rags-to-riches stories...It is a fabulous story,” Reyes said.

“In Cinderella, you will fall in love with the Ballet Philippine dancers again. Cinderella will show you their fabulous work ethic and strong discipline,” she added.

Reyes is both the production's choreographer and librettist. She is assisted in the artistic and creative departments by Monino Duque as lighting designer, Barbara Tan-Tiongco as technical director, and Victor Ursabia and Ramon Victoria as re-stagers. The original set and costume designs by National Artist Salvador Bernal will be used.

First staged in 1981, Cinderella was also produced and performed by BP in 1984, 1989, and 2002. Its fifth re-staging marks its 33rd anniversary.

Continuity

The 2014 edition features BP soloist Denise Parungao and junior company member Monica Amanda Gana as Cinderella. This will be Gana’s first lead role with BP, while Parungao essayed the role of Giselle in 2013 and 2014.

Playing opposite them as Prince Charming are principal dancers Jean Marc Cordero and Richardson Yadao.

In the same interview, Reyes said the 2014 Cinderella “marks some form of continuity” with the past re-staging of her ballet work.

“The young BP dancers work with several dancers who had performed in previous productions. The others cast members in the past productions, I’ve requested them to join us and help coach the young dancers,” she said.

In her choreographer notes for the December 1981 world premiere of "Cinderella", Reyes said: “I have always wanted to do a ballet for children. Cinderella was the perfect material. I can’t think of childhood without Mother Goose and Cinderella.”

With a joyful mixture of kings, princes, fairies, and animals, the three-act ballet is set to a collage of music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

According to Reyes, "Cinderella" is “traditionally choreographed” to Prokofiev, but she said she found the composer’s Act II music “too heavy and dark.”

“So I turned to Tchaikovsky, sure that we could find enough music for a full-length ballet from all his works,” Reyes said.

After months of listening to various symphonies, suites and concertos which were researched, unearthed and presented to her by her collaborator and "conspirator" Rudy Vidad, the music score was developed for the 1981 production.

It was translated by Frankie Feliciano into a “logical form” for the orchestra to play, added Reyes.

Training and career

Reyes is the founder of BP, and her vision propelled the dance company into a globally recognized arts institution. She is now its artistic director emeritus.

She began her dance training at an early age and continued dancing while pursuing her undergraduate degree in history and foreign service at Maryknoll College.

With a background in ballet, folk dancing, and jazz, Reyes ventured into the challenging and exciting realm of modern dance. Through a grant from the John D. Rockefeller III Fund, she went through an extensive training period in Colorado College under a Hanya Holm scholarship.

Reyes was subsequently awarded a grant from the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines, enabling her to earn a Master of Arts in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College under its scholarship program.

Upon her return to the Philippines in 1969, she staged her first modern dance concert at the CCP. Its success was crucial in her decision to remain in the country.

The sheer diversity of Reyes' choreographic talents can be seen in her highly acclaimed works, ranging from the classics like “Cinderella” and “Romeo and Juliet” to Filipino modern works like “Amada,” “Itim-Asu,” “Bayanihan Remembered,” “Mga Babae,” “Tales of the Manuvu,” and “Rama Hari.”

Her efforts in pushing for the development of dance in the Philippines led to dance becoming known as a distinguished profession in itself. Many Filipino dancers have since emerged and contributed significantly in forming the country’s cultural heritage.

On June 20, 2014, Reyes was declared National Artist for Dance by President Benigno S. Aquino III through Proclamation No. 807.

“With my being a national artist, I feel I should give back to the country, which does not necessarily mean a new production. What I want to do is to travel and look into the different islands and see what is happening in the dance scenes in these islands,” she said.

“I’d like to make a state-of-dance-in-the-Philippines report, hoping that many people will realize that dance is an important part of life. We have to have many people fall in love with dance again.” — BM, GMA News

“Cinderella” will be performed at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) on the following dates and times:

November 28: 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
November 29: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
November 30: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
December 5: 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
December 6: 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
December 7: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For bulk reservations, show buys, and inquiries, visit www.ballet.ph or call Ballet Philippines at 551-1003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.