The 53rd year of BALLET PHILIPPINES (BP) makes its much-awaited return to the grand stage of the Cultural Center of the Philippines this September. At the season launch in May, the 53-year-old, flag-bearer dance company opened with a call to arms, to Dance Where No One Else. It was a theme that would soon inspire BP’s 53rd Season Gala Performance: Dance Here and Now—Equus, Bolero, and Other Dances.
The mix bill performance is a culmination of the company’s unwavering dedication, discipline and commitment to keep dance alive–amidst two years of pandemic. It was a synchronized team effort that established stronger bonds between Ballet Philippines’ board of trustees, its President Kathleen Liechtenstein, Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynuk and all members of the company. As a result, the company’s dancers and guest artists have managed to stay in performance-ready form through advanced strength training, mental wellness therapy, and expert-led body conditioning regimen. It is testament to the company’s commitment to nurturing its artists holistically.
Misha shares: “We prepared our bodies for the big task ahead. After we got into our best shape–both mentally and physically–we began working on choreographies and dancing. We take endurance and musicality very seriously. This is why there is no stopping us now. We are ready. We can’t wait to dance and make our ways to the stage.”
A passion for dance inspired the company in the last two years. It has also invigorated preparations for this season’s gala. This was further heightened by the thought that after the long wait, doors of the theater, along with the thick velvet curtains of the stage, will once again open to ring in the magic of ballet.
EQUUS, BOLERO AND OTHER DANCES will be BALLET PHILIPPINES’s first live performance at the CCP Main Theatre. “This will be a stunning, golden collection of ballets loved by the world. In this performance, we will see a huge leap in history from classic to modern times,” explains Misha. From September 17 to 18, patrons, supporters and enthusiasts of performance arts, will finally enjoy the visionary choreographic works of the company’s Artistic Director. Audiences can also expect a performance filled with power, emotion, depth, and soul.
BALLET PHILIPPINES President, Kathleen Liechtenstein remarks: “We are stepping out again to achieve what the company has sought to since its founding over five decades ago. We are returning to the grand stage of the CCP–bigger, stronger and wiser. Most importantly, we seek to inspire and empower a growing creative community in taking collective strides towards the future.”
EQUUS, BOLERO AND OTHER DANCES will show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from September 17 (Gala Night at 8PM) to 18 (2PM and 7PM). For tickets and subscriptions, visit www.ballet.ph.