La Sylphide opened Ballet Philippines’ 55th season on a high note, showcasing an emotionally-compelling tale with powerful performances that captivated audiences on its gala night.
Ballet Philippines marked the grand opening of its 55th season with an unforgettable gala event at the Theatre at Solaire lobby, celebrating the season’s launch with an impressive performance of Filippo Taglioni’s seminal ballet, La Sylphide. The evening affair saw an impressive turnout, with guests dressed in their best soft and billowy outfits that evoked the ballet’s romantic spirit.
Members of the Philippine Navy, Army, and Civil Military Operations attended the performance as part of Ballet Philippines’ “Men in Uniform” project. This is part of the organization’s commitment to bringing the joy of ballet to the men and women who protect and serve the country.
Ballet Philippines also extended its reach through the “Share the Magic” project, which invited various groups to experience the beauty and the message of La Sylphide. Attendees included GMA’s Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko, SOS Children’s Village Manila, Paranaque National High School, Kalayaan Elementary School, Sisters of Mary, the Staff of Good Shepherd, Sculler Christian Academy, Philippine Cancer Society, and DepEd Navotas. This initiative allowed a broader audience to witness the artistry of ballet, further enriching the impact of the unforgettable production.
READ ALSO: Dance Of Romance: Ballet Philippines Opens Its 55th Season With La Sylphide
A Story Of Love And Loss
La Sylphide, arguably Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni’s most famous ballet, was the progenitor of “ballet blancs” or Romantic “white ballets.” In these performances, female dancers would wear white tutus to represent supernatural beings like fairies and ghosts.
Captivating Spirit
Set in Scotland, the ballet follows the story of James Ruben, a farmer who becomes enchanted by a Sylph (a type of forest fairy), who approaches him in his farmhouse. Yet James is engaged to his fiance Effie, with their loved ones in the midst of happy celebrations before the wedding.
During one such celebration, the witch Madge manages to enter their abode, warming her hands by the fire. Effie and her friends insist on having their palms read and fortunes told, and when the witch reveals that she will marry someone else and James has fallen for another, the farmer becomes enraged and kicks her out of the festivities. This, of course, becomes the catalyst for tragedy, with James as the center of a cautionary tale.
A Lover’s Curse
Sylph returns to woo and confess her love for the farmer, and he finds himself thoroughly captivated, leaving his fiancé and the rest of their loved ones behind as he follows the fairy to her magical forest home, filled with her fellow fairies. They dance and make merry, but behind the scenes, Madge cooks up her revenge scheme, creating a magical scarf.
Gurn, James’ good friend who’s been secretly pining for Effie, joins a search party for the farmer. He finds James’ hat, but encounters Madge, who tells him not to reveal his discovery to anyone—instead, encouraging Gurn to propose to the heartbroken Effie, who accepts his offer. Madge then makes her way to James, gifting him the enchanted scarf and persuading him to give it to Sylph.
James does just that, not knowing that the scarf was made to kill his beloved. Sylph loses her wings and sight, collapsing and dying right before his eyes. Her fellow sylphs carry her away in a procession, and the farmer is left to contemplate his loss while watching Gurn and Effie’s joyful wedding procession in the distance. Madge finds James and has him watch Sylph’s ascension into the heavens, and the man—perhaps crushed by the weight of his emotions and effects of his actions—quite literally dies from his soul-crushing grief. The witch laughs over his body, her plan finally complete.
The Romance of Dance
Desire is what drives the characters of this poignant ballet, which shows how following the impulses of one’s heart can be equal parts rewarding and detrimental. Being honest about one’s feelings is also a core part of the story; in his desperation to deny Madge’s fortune, James forgets to be kind, choosing instead to cast her away rather than accept the fact that he might not love Effie as much as he thought he did. In a sense, the witch is simply a mirror of the consequences a person can experience when they refuse to face the truth.
The performance of La Sylphide received rapturous applause, with many audience members pointing out the impressive techniques of Ballet Philippines’ dancers. It was clear that they had been working tirelessly to perfect their batterie, petit allegros, and ballons.
While soft, delicate movements are characteristic of many romantic ballets, such techniques require immense skill and power to look as effortless as they do on stage. The dancers’ port de bras and epaulement stayed true to the romantic style, a callback to the legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni (who is also the daughter of creator Filippo Taglioni).
These fruits of the dancers’ hard work are due in large part to the steadfast support of Ballet Philippines’ audiences. As the dance company’s president Kathleen Liechtenstein said in her speech before the show: “Every ticket you purchase supports the physical, financial, medical, and mental well-being of our dancers, allowing them to master the demanding techniques of productions like La Sylphide. Your support also enables us to stage exceptional performances, create new works, and reach out to inspire young minds across the country, enriching their lives with the art of ballet.”
The Promising Season Ahead
The gala set a high note for what promises to be a remarkable season ahead. Ballet Philippines will enchant audiences with their Christmas production of Peter Pan, a delightful retelling of the beloved classic that will captivate both the young and the young at heart.
As they close the 55th season, Ang Panaginip—a full-length, original Filipiniana ballet—will make its world premiere in March 2025, promising to be a new classic that celebrates the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage.
Stay tuned via Ballet Philippines’ website, www.ballet.ph and its social media accounts for these upcoming highlights as the dance company continues to inspire and delight audiences.
Photos courtesy of Ballet Philippines.
