Ballet Philippines’ US tour opening stirs Filipino pride
Photo by Vics Magsaysay
LOS ANGELES – Ballet Philippines drew a standing ovation Saturday night (Sunday, October 5 in Manila) after dazzling spectators with some of the best works it has produced for the past 45 years.
Staged at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the show opened Ballet Philippines’ one-month US tour and heralded the celebration of Filipino-American History Month in October.
The all-Filipino troupe – elegant, graceful and captivating – kept the audience enthralled throughout the performance.
“They turned simple walks and poses into images of inspiration,” said artist Vics Magsaysay. “The show has it all – atmosphere, romanticism, poetry and the indomitable Filipino spirit.”
Several of the country’s best choreographers were represented in the program, titled “Masterpieces.” Their works, which differed significantly in style, showcased the dance company’s dual mastery of classical and contemporary dance.
The biggest crowd-pleaser was the lighthearted “Tambol at Padyak,” a tap dance in the iconic bakya (wooden shoes), which brought the show to a rousing close.
Photo by Vics Magsaysay
“The hoots and hollers, and the standing ovation filled our cups to overflowing,” said GodinUs Executive Producer Becca Godinez, who brought the show to California. “I felt the Filipino pride.”
It was a first taste of homegrown dance artistry for many in the audience, including the show’s co-producer Ted Benito.
“As a US-born Filipino, I have never seen an entire company of Filipino dancers who perform ballet, which makes tonight very special,” said Benito, producer of PAE Live and executive director of Apl.de.ap Foundation International.
Ballet Philippines, the first professional dance company in Southeast Asia, has earned critical acclaim at home and abroad.
“It has made significant contributions to Asian arts and culture in the development of dance through new works and Filipino and international classics,” said former Miss Universe Margie Moran Floirendo, the dance company’s president.
Photo by Vics Magsaysay
Among the spectators who fervently applauded the troupe were Filipino-American celebrities Apl.de.ap, Lou Diamond Phillips, Nia Peeples and Sony Pictures Entertainment Senior Vice President of Worldwide Publicity Fritz Friedman.
Ballet Philippines’ next stop is San Jose, California. They will perform at the California Theater on Sunday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. The company will also be at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon on Oct. 15; South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington on Oct. 17; Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, Washington; River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia on Oct. 26.
A portion of the proceeds from the Los Angeles and San Jose performances will be donated to the Ballet Philippines Foundation for its arts education projects and to the Apl.de.ap Foundation International for its humanitarian work with disenfranchised children and Typhoon Haiyan survivors in the Philippines.
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