Cebu’s two main exponents of classical dance are in celebratory mood. They participated and scored well in the Philippine Dance Cup ballet competition at De La Salle College of St. Benilde in Manila.
Johanna Mangubat of Cebu Centre for Dance says that they entered only two students in the Classical Solo Female division which had a total of 56 competitors from all over the Philippines.
Sabrina Bogard ranked third, and Honneyville Boiser, fifth place. There was no first-place winner.
Cebu Balletcenter sent a large delegation that also shone, making co-artistic directors Nicolas Pacaña and Greg Aaron very happy, indeed.
Bernadette Sinues was overall winner of the Junior Solo division, and Veia Lampert was in second place for the same category.
Furthermore, Balletcenter landed on 4th place in the Group Ensemble division. In it were Takira McCabe, Veia Lampert, Eunice Molleno, Liliana Sitoy, Frances Codilla, Natasha Condalor, Kesha Uy, Aliana Villaluna and Alliyah Gabutan.
Cited in the Seniors/Classical division were Judith Po, eighth place; Khynloyd Genson and Irish Pasa, 10th place. Completing the Balletcenter delegation were Arabella Arquillano, Alexandra Bacalla, Tzarina Catipay, and Lenzie Magsayo.
Josh Romayla, company manager, informs Cebu ballet enthusiasts that Balletcenter will present a full length production of Coppelia in November. The casting has been done, and rehearsals are underway.
Waterfront concert
Speaking of November, Glenna Fernan Guidicelli tells us to circle Nov. 18 in our calendars. That’s the night her son Matteo Guidicelli will perform in a concert with other stars at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Still speaking of November, the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu will celebrate its anniversary on Nov. 10 with a grand event at the lobby. Highlight is the early lighting of its towering blue Christmas tree.
Dia de la Hispanidad ball
On the calendar we’re also circling various dates. On Oct. 8 is the grand reception and ball hosted by the Casino Español de Cebu to celebrate Dia de la Hispanidad, which is actually on Oct. 12 but the Saturday nearest to it is usually chosen.
Expected to come is Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo with his wife Maria Jose and their son Lain. They will be billeted at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
Rolling out the red carpet will be the Casino Español de Cebu officers: president Luis Moro III and his wife Lynn, vice president honorary consul of Mexico Eduardo Gonzalez and his wife Therese, secretary Edgar Chiongbian and his wife Cely, treasurer Renato Kintanar and his wife Joy, house chair Paco Jarque and his wife Monique, cultural affairs director Gabby Leyson and Tina Jordana, and sports director honorary consul of Spain Anton Perdices and his wife Maripaz.
That’s keeping you quite busy, we told Casino Español general manager May Ocaba. “Yes,” she answered, “And there are many other events like the annual celebration of Oktoberfest, this year on Sept. 28.”
“There’s the Prime Rib Roast night,” reminds May about the monthly event at the club’s El Comedor. This is usually on the third Wednesday of the month, hence Sept. 21.
It is quite a hit with the members, states May, who adds that the last one on Aug. 17 registered about 50 diners.
After Dia de la Hispanidad the Casino Español de Cebu looks forward to an intense Christmas season, what with the raffle cum dinner of Las Cestas de Navidad, and the traditional costume ball on New Year’s Eve.
Lighting ceremony
And speaking of Christmas the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa has set its Christmas tree lighting ceremony for the evening of Dec. 1, a Thursday. “Less traffic,” says communications director Cassandra Cuevas. A week later, on Dec. 9, is the anniversary gala of La Chaine des Rotisseurs—Cebu chapter.
Cassandra is off to Amsterdam, Cologne and Vienna with her mom where she’ll spend her birthday on Oct. 1. They plan to see the Spanish Riding School, the imperial apartments at the Hifburg and Schonbrunn, and perchance the ballet “Le Corsaire” at the Vienna State Opera. Happy trip!
