Debuting ballerinas unfold their wings in Ballet Manila’s‘ Swan Lake’
Among classical ballerinas, the twin roles of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake are by far the most difficult — and probably the most coveted. As the main female characters, these two distinct parts are traditionally performed by the same dancer and become the acid test of any ballerina’s mettle.
“Once you’ve done these roles, you can do anything,” says Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. “They are practically opposites in terms of character and style. The White Swan, Odette, is an innocent, pure soul so she needs you to be lyrical, soft, vulnerable and pliant. On the other hand, her Black Swan doppelganger, Odile, is dark and evil, requiring strength, aggression and sensuality with a sprinkling of malice and mischief. Somehow you always end up feeling a little schizophrenic after a show,” she laughs.
Lisa knows whereof she speaks. In an active career that spanned over three decades, she had clocked 122 performances of the White Swan, 72 of the Black Swan, and 23 full-length productions where she danced both characters in local and international productions.
“Having said that, it makes me extremely proud of our new season production because it will be our first time to stage gala performances of Swan Lake without myself or a guest principal dancing Odette and Odile,” she points out.
“The three ballerinas doing these complex dual roles are all BM artists and they are also doing the entire full-length production for the very first time.”
Testing their newfound wings are principal dancer Katherine Barkman and soloists Abigail Oliveiro and Joan Emery Sia, who have been preparing to debut in the dual roles with much anticipation. And while Abigail and Joan have performed excerpts from the same ballet in previous shows.
The production also features resident guest principal Joseph Phillips, company principal Rudy de Dios, and soloists Mark Sumaylo, Romeo Peralta, and Elpidio Magat alternating in the role of Prince Siegfried. Live music will be played for all performances courtesy of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor, Maestro Alexander Vikulov.
Ballet Manila’s Swan Lake goes onstage at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 14, and at 3 p.m. on Oct. 8 and 15 at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City.
Tickets are available at all TicketWorld outlets, online at www.ticketworld.com. ph, or call 891-9999.