Dancing for the future
International ballerina Stella Abrera’s visiting performance in the Philippines
“It all started through a Mexican dinner two years ago,” recalled Stella Abrera, the first Filipino-American to have gained the highest position of principal dancer in American Ballet Theater (ABT), when asked how her visit and performance all came to life. Along with eight fellow American ballet stars, who are also her best of friends, Stella took the stage yesterday and Friday at the Maybank Theater in Bonifacio Global City. “Sofia and I started joking around about how fun it would be if we could put a show together one day, that was two years ago. Then, just last year, I saw that there was a little break for us ABT dancers after our Asia tour to Singapore and Hong Kong, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring some of my best friends to the country, and show them some of my favorite places here, and so I called Sofia and told her, ‘let’s go, girl! Let’s do this.’”
At the show’s press conference three days before the show, Stella shared that she had been dreaming of returning to the Philippines for a performance. “The difference in performing here in the Philippines than everywhere else for me is that there’s always an extra element of meaning for me, because it’s the place of my heritage, the place I was born in, the place where my ancestors’ roots are. To perform here is extra special,” she said. “And I knew that my friends are spectacular dancers, I knew that they are going to give a good show of beautiful dancing, but I have to say, Sofia and her wonderful team, and of course the Ayala team exceeded all of our wildest dreams as far as production was concerned. This is a dream gig! A beautiful, well-oiled machine, we are grateful for everything.”
The timing was absolutely perfect, according to Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan, as Centext (Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education) of Ayala Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, for which Stella eagerly agreed to perform. “Stella Abrera and the ABT stars provide us with the great opportunity not only to celebrate our success for the past 20 years, but to further gather support for our education programs in the years to come,” he said. “We really thank them for sharing their talent with us, especially for the benefit of our Centex students. I think this experience is truly heartwarming for everyone, us, the kids, and the dancers. I hope their dedication and passion for their art can inspire our students and our fellow Filipinos to strive and become world-class, too.”
Centex has long provided a holistic learning experience for students, teachers, and parents from underprivileged families. Since it was established, it has also provided over 1,700 elementary school graduates with education on a par with private schools from its two campuses, Tondo, Manila, and Bauan, Batangas. Centex also focuses on teacher development and has trained over 800 teachers and principals from 20 public elementary schools to foster the same holistic education experience across the country. Days before the show, Stella and her friends had the chance to visit their beneficiaries, the children of Centex. “I don’t think there was a dry eye among any of us,” she said. “Right in the moment we stepped inside the gates of their wonderful school, they welcomed us with a wonderful presentation where all the kids were serenading us, there were violins and dancers. When we got inside, there was a beautiful show prepared for us. We saw little kids who had only been training ballet for a year, and that’s when the water started to fill my eyes. They performed this really sweet dance for us, and we saw the joy in their faces.”
Visiting Centex was an extraordi- nary experience, life changing even, said Stella. “I’ve heard about the wonderful things that the Ayala Foundation has done for the kids, but to actually be in the school to meet the children, to see how remarkable they are is very life-changing. It really warms all of our hearts to know that we contributed to the furthering of their education.”
Titled “An Intimate Evening with Stella Abrera and American Ballet Stars,” the show transcended cultural boundaries and touched the soul of ballet lovers old and new, with timeless music from history’s greatest composers, and a repertoire curated by Stella herself. “I included many highlights from the Classical and Neo Classical repertoire of ballet, which I personally love,” she said. “And, for me, the best part was bringing all of my very close friends, whom I have admired for so many years, to join me in the gala.”
In the performance, Stella was joined by no less than top American Ballet stars Gillian Murphy, Isabella Boylston, Blaine Hoven, Roman Zhurbin, Arron Scott, Jose Sebastian, Catherine Hurlin, and Joowon Ahn.
‘The difference in performing here in the Philippines than everywhere else for me is that there’s always an extra element of meaning for me, because it’s the place of my heritage, the place I was born in, the place where my ancestors’ roots are. To perform here is extra special.’