Ballet Philippines’ 55th season promises a line-up of fantastic shows, starting with Filippo Taglioni’s famous romantic ballet, La Sylphide.
This July 2024, members of the media attended a special lunch at Solaire Resort and Entertainment City’s Waterside to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 55th Season, as well as catch an excerpt of its upcoming performance of La Sylphide. The romantic ballet, a work of Italian choreographer and dancer Filippo Taglioni, will be kicking off the dance company’s newest season with flair.
The intimate event began with Ballet Philippines’ principal dancers, Jemima Reyes and Ian Ocampo. The pair took to the stage to perform the introduction of La Sylphide. Together, they captured the audience’s full attention with their mesmerizing dance. Principal dancers Regine Magbitang and Rudolph Capongcol also performed another excerpt from the show entitled “The Promise.”
Impressive Technical Feats
Ballet Philippines president, Kathleen Liechtenstein, was present to give attendees a rousing welcome. She also revealed the exciting line-up of shows for the 55th season. These include the opening La Sylphide from August 9 to 11, 2024, followed by Peter Pan from December 6 to 8. The dance company will also stage the original production Ang Panaginip from February 28 to March 2, 2025.
She shared her enthusiasm about opening the season with Taglioni’s beloved and seminal work during her speech. “BP is staging La Sylphide for the first time in 55 years! Bringing this oldest romantic ballet to life is part of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of developmental ballet in the Philippines,” she expressed. “I will let Misha, our artistic director, tell you more about how our dancers have been seriously working on the strongest technique in their footwork and torso and how they’ve been undergoing tremendous training — it’s going to be a tremendous show.”
Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk, Ballet Philippines’ artistic director, added: “This ballet is very important because it brings BP’s performance to a different level—a new level of technique and purity of execution. I’m very proud of it! This performance is difficult for ballet dancers. It involves incredible stamina and a special technique of their feet, which our dancers have been training very, very hard to master.”
La Sylphide: Romance And Dance
La Sylphide made its world premiere in 1832, becoming a huge success and Taglioni’s most famous work. It was the first of what many call “ballet blancs” or Romantic “white ballets.” The subgenre of the dance involves female corps de ballet donning white tutus, representing “fairies, ghosts, or other supernatural creatures,” as Detroit Opera explains.
Ballet Philippines’ La Sylphide follows the story of a humble farmer, who eagerly prepares to marry his sweetheart. However, he finds himself captivated by a mystical Sylphide on his wedding day. Amidst the challenges of a jealous rival, this captivating story offers a fresh perspective on love and desire. It also contains the enchanting essence of Filipino romanticism and a strong belief in the supernatural. The ballet blends the mystical with the everyday, inviting audiences to a journey of passion and enchantment that feels deeply familiar.
Throughout the media preview, guests enjoyed a sumptuous lunch. They also had the opportunity to ask Kathleen Liechtenstein and Misha Martynyuk questions during an engaging Q&A session. After coffee, attendees bid their goodbyes and proceeded to the reception table to receive their event souvenirs. These included Chocolate Pyramid Truffles and Orange Almond Loaves, provided by long-time Ballet Philippines supporter, Bizu.
La Sylphide will take place at The Theatre at Solaire from August 9 at 8:00 PM, with shows on August 10 and 11 at 2 PM and 7 PM, respectively. Tickets are available at http://www.ballet.ph and via Ticketworld.
Photos courtesy of Ballet Philippines and via Instagram @balletphilippines.
