SM City Cebu in cooperation with Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Inc. brings you Ballet Philippines "Masterworks". Showcasings classical, neo classical & contemporary ballet performances.

REPERTOIRE

Igorot (Excerpt)
Igorot is the first of Agnes Locsin’s many works for Ballet Philippines, and made its appearance in the Philippines in February 1989. Known for her distinctly Filipino neo-ethnic choreographies, Locsin melds the ethnic ritual dances of the Igorot tribe with the classical forms of ballet, channeling a new sense of power to traditional dance through the striking use of pointework. Vignettes of the mountain tribe’s daily routines are animated through colorful and vivid movements interpreted in classical ballet and layers of different dance forms. For this reason, Igorot holds its ground as one of Ballet Philippines’ iconic pieces in its vast repertoire of classical, modern and contemporary work.

Excerpts from Ensalada (Mamang Kutsero, Bakya Mo Neneng, Limang Dipang Tao)
As playful and cheeky as the music it is performed to (Cayabyab’s award-winning a cappella recording entitled “One”), Ensalada is one of the company’s popular performance pieces due to its bright mix of an array of movements: from the cool and jazzy style of Mamang Kutsero, the almost balletic love dance of Bakya Mo Neneng, to the street-smart frenzied group number Limang Dipang Tao. This modern ballet, put together for the Hiyas 1981 CCP Philippines Musical Festival and originally performed with the UP Concert Chorus, has also been restaged several times after. This “salad” of dances is a caricature of Filipino urban life.   

Evacuation
Evacuation was introduced to the company during its 35th Season in the October 2004 production BP Goes Global. As a guest choreographer then, former BP Artistic Director Bam Damian brought this award-winning pas de deux known for its athleticism and stoic character. The creation of this piece began as a showcase for the exceptional talent of a 19-year-old by the name of Maria Eichwald, a star of the Stuttgart Ballet Company. Amsterdam’s Het National Ballet has also performed Evacuation in countless galas in France and Germany. Evacuation continues to be a mainstay of BP current repertoire, and is considered one of its showpieces.

Excerpt from Gaano Kadalas…
Tony Fabella’s works have been described by critics as witty, humorous, musical, inventive, clever, refreshingly novel, rich, exquisite, lyrical, frothy, exhilarating, captivating, and engaging. A prolific dance composer, Fabella managed to choreograph in all the dance styles (classical, modern, jazz, and folk), but is best known for his original works using Filipino themes set to music by Filipino composers. Of the late choreographer’s more dramatic choreographies, Gaano Kadalas… portrays through modern dance movements the high-strung emotions of Filipino drama. Riding on popular local movie music themes, this excerpt is only the beginning of a 5-member dance dialog originally performed by Cecile Sicangco, Judell De Guzman/Toni Lopez Gonzalez, Irish Abejero, Georgette Sanchez and Jojo Mamangun in February 2000. Gaano Kadalas… was included in BP’s 30th anniversary concert, Tra.En.Ta.   

Swimming the Ilog Pasig
Swimming the Ilog Pasig by Alden Lugnasin was the closing piece of the choreographers’ showcase in the 28th CCP Summer Dance Workshop in 1997, performed by the members of BP II. BP II was a junior dance company, consisting of Ballet Philippines’ outstanding apprentices and scholars, that focused on its dancers’ intensive technical and performance growth. BP II eventually included the development of new choreographies and repertoires in its mandate, providing platforms for young choreographers’ new works. Swimming the Ilog Pasig was one such work, captivating audiences with its explicit translation of synchronized swimming, complete with Speedo swimsuits, trunks and caps. Swimming was created to boost the efforts of the campaign to clean up the Pasig River that runs through Manila: to impress upon the next generation of Filipinos a heritage worth saving.
        
Bach Concerto
For its 22nd Season Gala, Ballet Philippines invited artists of the American Ballet Theater to participate in a benefit performance for the Mt. Pinatubo disaster rehabilitation program. In August 1991, celebrated ABT dancers Cynthia Harvey, Guillame Graffin, Jeremy Collins, Julie Kent, and Parrish Maynard danced side by side with Ballet Philippines’ Nonoy Froilan, Cecile Sicangco, Nicole Gaston, and Toni Lopez Gonzalez. Bach Concerto premiered in the Philippines in that Gala, restaged for the company by Rosanna Seravalli. Using Bach’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in F minor, this neo-classical ballet engages the subtlety of motion, moving toward the abandonment of the senses to the music’s rhythmic sensibility.     


Romeo and Juliet, Balcony Scene
Uncharacteristically of Alice Reyes and quite accidentally, Romeo and Juliet became the first classical ballet she made for the company. Since the arrangement for a guest choreographer to restage the ballet did not materialize, Reyes’ Romeo and Juliet was inspired by the grandness of the Bolshoi Ballet version, and the openness of Michael Smuin’s interpretation for San Francisco Ballet, creating a version that truly captured the expressiveness and lucidity of the Shakespearean love tragedy. The star-crossed lovers dance has been performed by Nonoy Froilan, Gina Mariano and Maricar Drilon. Later Juliets of note include Anna Villadolid and Maniya Barredo. Cecile Sicangco also performed this pas de deux with Jeremy Collins of ABT in 1991.  This pas de deux is passionately wrought in secret as Romeo meets Juliet under her balcony.

Te Deum (Verse 3 and 4)
In 1985, Ballet Philippines staged three works under the theme of Misa: Ang Misa, by Brando Miranda, Misa Criolla by Rosemary Helliwell, a guest teacher and choreographer for the CCP Summer Dance Workshop, and Te Deum by Denisa Reyes. With the Philippines on the brink of revolution, Reyes based her creation on the music of Georges Bizet and the “Te Deum” lyrics which monks pray at dawn.  Each section of the piece is inspired by verses from the Bible, giving commentaries on the state of the country. Through dance and music, Te Deum allows the everyday citizen’s voice to be heard.

Verse Three
“Why do you make us see wrong and look upon trouble? Destruction and violence are before us; strife and contention arise. So the law is slacked and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice is perverted.” Habakkuk 1:3

Verse Four
“…We will praise the Lord and call on all men everywhere to bless His Holy Name forever and ever.” Psalms 145:21

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This event is for the benefit of the Arts Council of Cebu Scholarship Program and the STC-Cebu School Development Program.

Tickets are priced at P 200 (matinee); P 600, P400, P300 (gala)

Ticket Outlets: ARTS COUNCIL OFFICE, tel. 233-0452, mobile 0917-328-7917 (Now accepting CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS);
SM DEPARTMENT STORE; ST. THERESA'S COLLEGE, tel. 253-3468

Event Type: Dance
Admission: limited
Schedule(s) and Venue(s):
    February 4, 2010 → GALA PERFORMANCE: 8:00 P.M., Thursday, SM Theater One, SM City Cebu
    February 5, 2010 → STUDENT'S MATINEE: 3:00 P.M. Friday, SM Theater One, SM City Cebu

Steve Lin has concertized throughout the United States, Italy, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. He is acclaimed by Classical Guitar Magazine as “a confident player with a powerful sound, quick hands, and a solid musical memory” and praised by American guitar virtuoso Eliot Fisk as a performer who “plays with an innate and uncommon elegance”.

Steve was the first prize winner at the 2006 Boston GuitarFest Competition and the 2001 East Carolina University Guitar Competition. He has performed at Mérida Yucatán Guitar Festival, Yale Guitar Extravaganza, L'Accademia Musicale Chigiana, ChitarraImperia Festival, and Stetson Guitar Workshop.

for tickets and  inquiries pls. call: Arts Council of Cebu at tel. nos. 233-0452, 0917-328-7917 or email at info@artscouncilcebu.org.

Event Type: Music
Admission: limited
Schedule(s) and Venue(s):
    January 26, 2010 → 8:00 p.m., Marcelo B. Fernan Press Center, DECS Compound, Cebu City

Jubilation in Flute and Piano with Kaju Lee(piano), Kathryn Hitchins Daniel and Leslie Daniel Newman(flute) performs at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center on January 9, 2010.

Brought to you by Omnilogy Inc. and Sam Houston State University School of Music in partnership with Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Inc., Peace Philharmonic Philippines Foundation, Inc., YMCA and Rotary Club of Talisay.

Free Admission on first come, first serve basis. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Event Type: Music
Admission: free
Schedule(s) and Venue(s):
    January 9, 2010 → 8:00 p.m., Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City

Cebu! Cebu! is a celebration of Cebu's finest in the arts, fashion, furniture, food, music and faith. Brought to you by The Northwing at SM City Cebu in cooperation with the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Inc., highlights the works of Annie Chen, Kenneth Cobonpue, Jun Escario, Romulo Galicano, E. Billy Mondoñedo, Philip Rodriguez and Raki Urbina.

Together with this event is the launching of "My Cebu, My SM".

Exhibit will run from January 9 to 17 with daily performances at 6:00 p.m.

Event Type: Special Event
Admission: limited
Schedule(s) and Venue(s):
    January 9, 2010 → 4 p.m., The Northwing, SM City Cebu