Alice Reyes returns as artistic director for Ballet Philippines
BALLET PHILIPPINES (BP) welcomes back its founder, National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes, as its artistic director, in time for its 48th season.
Ms. Reyes is the BP’s visionary founder who led the company into becoming a national arts institution. She established regular season concerts, professionalized dance as a career, and played a major role in the development of dance in the country.
She served as BP’s Artistic Director for the company’s first 20 years.
Ms. Reyes will replace Paul Alexander Morales, who will be on sabbatical for the 48th season. He served as BP’s Artistic Director from 2009 to 2017.
On June 20, 2014, Ms. Reyes was declared National Artist for Dance by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III through Proclamation No. 807.
“I am elated to be coming in at this most opportune time,” Ms. Reyes was quoted as saying in a press release. “The company is two short years away from its golden anniversary, and so this is a fantastic chance to start drumming up the energy and keep it up even beyond the 50th season.”
In line with its preparation for its 50th season in 2019, BP President Margie Moran Floirendo said Ms. Reyes’s return was the perfect time for her to take on a more active role in the company’s overall planning and direction.
“It is our great honor to welcome Alice back. She has generously given the company much support especially over the past few years,” said Ms. Floirendo.
Ms. Reyes staged her first modern dance concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines upon her return to the country in 1969, after training in the US with top dancers and choreographers including Merce Cunningham and Robert Joffrey.
With a background in ballet, folk dancing, and jazz, Ms. Reyes went to study modern dance in the US at the Colorado College then Sarah Lawrence College.
Among her highly acclaimed works, which ranged from the classics to Filipino modern works, include Cinderella. Romeo and Juliet, Amada, Itim- Asu, Bayanihan Remembered, Mga Babae, Tales of the Manuvu, and Rama Hari. —