Kathleen and Mikhail: Movers of BP’s 51st season
Ballet Philippines (BP) recently launched their 51st season online, which they termed as “BP OnStream.” the digital platform on Ballet.ph is home to various content, including masterclasses from teachers around the world, and is free for anyone interested.
I interviewed two important personalities of Ballet Philippines, the president, Kathleen ‘MayMay’ liorliechtenstein and the new artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk.
MayMay, what made you decide to come up with BP OnStream for BP’s 51st Season?
Maymay: When the CCP announced closing its stage together with the government’s mandate on social distancing and a ban on concerts/shows, I thought of the digital platform which the Board of Directors approved. Our goal is to keep the arts of Dance alive and for Ballet Philippines to survive and continue to thrive during this unprecedented dark period worldwide. Could you briefly tell us what is in store for BP’s 51st Season?
Maymay: In the meantime that our CCP house is closed, we created a digital stage for BP to bring ballet into the home of the audience online. It will not only feature dance but also different stories and videos on everything that is aligned to the arts of Dance.
this month we have Healthy eats by the CeO of Bizu, the Grammar of Movement by architect Carlo Calma, a “Nutcracker” storytelling by a mother and daughter tandem Michelle tagle and teresa Robbins, a peek on the journey of our ballerina Denise Parungao, and our production of shows that are streamlining.
the core of the OnStream virtual stage is our training and learning page where company classes, masterclasses from masters around the world, choreographic rehearsals, lecture, videos for the public are free of charge.
You have a new Artistic Director Mikhail ‘Misha’ Martynyuk. What are the qualities you found in him to make you decide that he is the person you are looking for?
Maymay: the board decided last year to find from around the world our artistic director to breathe fresh ideas to BP and its dancers with the best training to reach the goal of belonging to the best companies in asia. We searched from Russia, Cuba, Israel, Canada, Portugal, USa, Philippines, Spain and london. We shortlisted and personally interviewed candidates. the committee chaired by Mercedes Zobel and Maan Hontiveros finally declared Misha as the choice.
Do you have a message to impart to the BP audience during these critical times in our lives?
Maymay: the worst decision a dancer can do at this time is to stop dancing. train, take lessons, stay positive, do not indulge in negative thoughts, and take care of your mental health. Surround yourself with people who are positive, inspiring and uplifting. Be loyal to only God and your craft. and remember, BP will never allow the arts of Dance to die in the times of Covid-1V. We will survive it together!
And here are the thoughts of Mikhail Martynyuk. Congratulations on being the new Artistic Director of BP. I watched your performance of “Alexsandra” online, and I was focused on your movements. How do you make the dance seem so flawless?
Mikhail: thank you very much for congratulations. I am very glad to be part of Ballet Philippines. One very famous choreographer told me during rehearsals: ‘the first thing you have to do is turn off your phone so that you are free from family and life. You are here with me now, alone. We will rehearse. and we will have a lot of rehearsals. Watch me and understand all my movements, and my inner state.’
It is through this professional approach that perfection shall be achieved. What is the role of dance in the world today?
Mikhail: Dance is life itself. this is the first and only universal way to express our feelings through gestures and movement. It is through dance that man can achieve harmony there is equilibrium and order.
What is the most important goal that you want to accomplish as BP’s Artistic Director?
Mikhail: My most important task is to raise the performance skills to a new level. Repertoire will be universal so that performances are in demand and appreciated in the Philippines and around the world. While this will take time, the most important thing is to choose your path and stay on course. and over time, you will achieve your goal. I always complete what I plan to do. I never leave anything unfinished.
In the future, do you plan to collaborate with Filipino choreographers and create a FilipinoRussian dance experience?
Mikhail: every theater, troupe, and even a mall team has its history, its unique style and we need to develop this with the help of new technologies, stage decisions, and new choreographic language. a symbiosis of Philippine and foreign choreography would be very interesting. I am for exploring the new, but also preserving traditions.