“I have always wanted to do a ballet for children, and ‘Cinderella’ was the perfect material,” says Reyes, Ballet Philippines’ founder and artistic director emeritus. “After all, I can’t think of childhood without Mother Goose and Cinderella.”
First staged in 1981, “Cinderella” was also produced and performed by Ballet Philippines in 1984, 1989 and 2002.
Now on its fifth restaging and 33rd anniversary, Cinderella will be played by soloist Denise Parungao and junior company member Monica Amanda Gana. This is Gana’s first lead role with Ballet Philippines, while Parungao was last seen in the title role of Ballet Philippines’ “Giselle” in 2013 and 2014.
Playing opposite them as Prince Charming are principal dancer Richardson Yadao and junior principal dancer Earl John Arisola.
To add even more magic to this production, Isabelle Garachon, wife of the French Ambassador to the Philippines and former professional dancer, will be playing the role of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, alternating with Ballet Philippines President Margie Moran Floirendo.
The three-act ballet is set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
“Cinderella” show dates are Nov. 28 (3 p.m./8 p.m.), Nov. 29 (2 p.m./6 p.m.), Nov. 30 (2 p.m./6 p.m.), Dec. 5 (3 p.m./8 p.m.), Dec. 6 (10 a.m./6 p.m.) and Dec. 7 (2 p.m./6 p.m.).
The artistic and creative team includes Alice Reyes (choreographer and librettist), Salvador Bernal (set/costume designer), Monino Duque (lighting designer), Barbara Tan-Tiongco (technical director), and Victor Ursabia and Ramon Victoria (restagers).
Visit www.ballet.ph or call Ballet Philippines at 5511003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 8323704 or Ticketworld at 8919999.