Ballet Manila had a good respite from its classical repertoire when it restaged Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” in its latest season.
The latest Ballet Manila attraction opened with the “Luzviminda [Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao]” Suite by Jojo Lucila as restaged by Osias Barroso. Audience savored the ethnic traditions of northern Luzon through the dances of the region’s cultural communities.
In the Visayas section, “Kinabuhing Mananagat – Buhay Mandaragat,” choreographed by Rudy de Dios, with music by Danny Javier, audiences had a glimpse of the rhythm of life of Visayan fisherfolk.
But the most arresting section was no doubt an excerpt from Gerardo Francisco’s “Alamat: Si Sibul at si Gunaw” Wedding Suite.
The choreography was familiar but Francisco rendered it in classical style. Every scene was pure enchantment; the ensemble was pure delight. The huge crowd was awed by its visual appeal.
The last part used the popular tunes of Eraserheads and Sugar Free in the choreography of Francis Jaena.
Michael Divinagracia’s “Handog” was set to the music of Ernani Cuenco’s “Bato Sa Buhangin.”
What made the last part very contemporary was the presence of radio talk-show host Papa Jack and his “T.L.C. (True Love Conversation)” radio repartee.
With Papa Jack on stage right and a restless radio listener on the left, the audience was able to witness how the young generations confided their heartaches, often petty and meaningless, to their favorite radio DJ.
The most enjoyable part was Francisco’s “Barkada,” for capturing campus characters hilariously. The ensemble acting was excellent, the dancing dazzling.
Looking at the unusual ballet crowd (the people seated were not the usual well-dressed, opening-night figures), one realized that Ballet Manila was in touch with contemporary audience.
Such programming was needed to remind Filipino dance lovers that they could not be totally Western in their taste.
Ballet Manila’s Lisa Macuja-Elizalde said dancing to OPM music brought fun and energy on stage. She first tried it in 1987 when she shared the stage with Celeste Legaspi, Basil Valdez and Douglas Nieras in a show called “Tuliro Ngayon at Kailan Man.”
Indeed, we need more variety in our dance-theater diet to remind us there is more to ballet enjoyment than joining the avid ballet aficionado counting the 32 fouettes in “Swan Lake” or figuring out how high you can go in “Don Quixote.”
The next BM presentations are “Two!” on Oct. 10, “Swan Lake” on Nov. 14; and “Nutcracker: Pasko Na Naman Muli” on Nov. 28. For inquiries, call tel. 4000292 or 5255967.