A DANCE OF HISTORY

Ballet Philippines tells of the old times

WATCHING Celebration in SM Lanang is like a prelude to the Buwan ng Wika which is a month away.

With much younger faces, Ballet Philippines' dancers were equally graceful and beautiful as they performed in front of the Davao audience at the mall's atrium on May 18.

Ballet Philippines celebrates its 49th year of Artistic Excellence through their show aptly called Celebration: The National Tour.

Celebration ia a collection of some of Ballet Philippines' best-loved dances that pay homage to Filipino history, diversity, and talent.

The performance opened with 'Ang Sultan', choreographed by Gener Caringal, depicts the pre-Hispanic Filipino Society's caste system. The ballet tells of the savage consequences when a man from a lower caste falls in love with a princess.

Next was Valse Fantasy, a Nonoy Froilan and Adam Sage after Muñeca Aponte version, was a story of a male dancer and five ballerinas dance in a ballet dotted with leaps, turns, beats, entrances and exits. Set to Glinka’s music, Valse Fantasy is pure dancing tailored by the music’s breezy patterns and delightful rhythms.

Alice Reyes' Bungkos Suite featuring the epics Dahil sa ‘Yo, Chichiritchit, Dandansoy, Manang Biday, and Telebong was a stunning collection of traditional and popular folk songs reflecting various moods but especially highlighting the playfulness and sense of humor of the Filipino.

William Morgan's Ang Pilya was the last performance for the group which tells the story of Mama Simeona marrying off her daughter, Lisa, to Alan, the son of a wealthy landowner, Don Tomas. But Lisa is already enamored with Kulas, and finds every chance to sneak off with him. With a little help from their friends—and a lot more from a sudden storm—Lisa and Kulas get their happy ending.

The Celebration also visited Cagayan de Oro to complete its Mindanao leg after Davao City.