Last week, together with some select few bloggers and friends from the media, I was invited to the exclusive preview of Ballet Manila ’s 21st Season – Revenge of the Classics .
You all know that I am a Ballet Manila fan. I’ve watched REBEL and their Ballet Concert, BM21 early this year and raved about both them. It was such an awesome thing to watch Ballet. A full Ballet performance is really something for the books. And on both occasions, I’ve watched prima-ballerina THE LISA MACUJA-ELIZALDE perform. I consider myself, fortunate.
And so now that she’s on retirement, she still make sure that ballet is part of her life through Ballet Manila where she serves as the CEO and Artistic Director. Together with the directors, choreographers and the rest of the people on Ballet Manila, they have decided that for it’s 21st season, they want to pay homage to some of the acts that have laid down the foundation of every other ballet production.
Revenge of the Classics will feature three classics and one contemporary piece that has won the hearts of many Filipinos.
“Nothing beats the classics. There’s something about classical tales and pieces that is just so magical that they stay in your memory forever,” shares Prima Ballerina and Ballet Manila’s Artistic Director and CEO, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. “Technically speaking, you can’t cheat when you’re doing the classics; there’s just no way. Revenge of the Classics invokes the same spirit that guided us when we founded the company in 1995. My Russian mentor, Tatiana Udalenkova, often reminded me that every season should have a classical production because it is in doing the classics that the company becomes strong. Our 21st season will showcase the power and grace that enable our ballerinas and danseurs to perform these extremely difficult classical ballet roles.”
So for the preview, Ballet Manila performs a part of all four shows for us to enjoy and get a glimpse of what to expect.
Rebel: EDSA 30
Revenge of the Classics opens on August 19 with Rebel: EDSA 30 . I was able to catch this show during their debut last February in time for the EDSA celebration. Read my full review and see what’s in store for you. Choreographed by British choreographer Martin Lawrence and featuring music from Spartacus by world-renowned Armenian composer, Aram Khachaturian, this production is more than awesome.
This will feature Joanna Ampil as the voice of Inang Bayan, and performances by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga. Rebel: EDSA 30 will be shown at the Aliw Theater on August 19, 20, and 27 at 8:00 p.m. and August 21 and 28 at 3:00 p.m.
To say that this is highly recommended is an understatement.
The Swan, The Fairy and The Princess
This production will showcase excerpts from three of our beloved shows by master composer Peter Tschaikovsky – Swan Lake , The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty .
For this specific show, Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexader Vikulov would give life and music to the classics.
The Swan Lake is something very familiar to us because of well, the Swan Lake movie. Watching the princess do her thing is really something magical.
The Nutcracker is new for me. But it looks beautiful. I am sure my daughter would love this show.
And of course, who doesn’t know Sleeping Beauty? This Disney classic is very close to every girl’s heart.
I’m planning to catch this show with the #FabSkye. I’m very sure she’d love this show. My daughter is showing interests on ballet. I make her watch ballet on YouTube and she loves them. She would even imitate them. She specifically love their clothes. Girl’s in tutu are perfect for her.
If you wanna join us watch, show schedules are October 14 & 15 at 8:00 PM and October 16 at 3:00 PM.
Cinderella
My personal favorite! I’m a bit biased because I’m a Cinderella fan but really, it’s magical and beautiful. This is Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso’s first major choreographic work together. It’s very beautiful. I’m so excited to watch the full show kasi sa preview palang, grabe na talaga.
I also want to watch it with the #FabSkye. A classic fairy tale in ballet is like hitting two birds in one stone for us. This show is definitely something my daughter would love.
It’ll be shown at the Aliw Theater on November 25 & 26 and December 3 at 8:00 PM and November 27 and December 4 at 3:00 PM. Perfect for the Christmas season.
Don Quixote
And of course, Revenge of the Classics should have Don Quixote. The classic of all classics in ballet. Lisa Macuja said that they stayed true to the story and choreography and so people would definitely watch a classic. It will be shown on February 24 & 25 at 8:00 PM and February 26 at 3:00PM, still at the Aliw Theater.
But eto talaga, if you subscribe and buy all shows early, you could get up to 50% off! Just visit www.ticketworld.com.ph/. Go and buy early for all 4 shows kasi promise talaga ang sulit. Imagine? 50% off on all shows!!! Sobrang mura nalang talaga. And for a ballet show, this is so worth it. Plus it’s a Ballet Manila production. Based on the two that I’ve previously watched, grabe! Sulit na sulit every centavo.
Everytime I’d blog about shows like these, and stage plays too, I always that it is very important that we expose our kids (and ourselves too) on shows such as these. This is for culture and arts appreciation which is a major part of our child’s well-being.
So go and book now . Book all 4 shows now and get it for half the price. In London, people buy tickets the minute they’ve learned of the production. Sana dito din.
And yes! Thanks to Ballet Manila, the #FabSkye would take ballet lessons soon. And she’s so excited na talaga. We have to finish her swimming lessons first before the ballet lesson. Isa isa lang kasi mahina ang kalaban. Ubos ang weekends namin sa mga lessons nya eh.
** All photos and some information are c/o Ballet Manila Philippines.
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