They Who Tiptoe in Reel Time

MANILA, Philippines - Mention the word ballet and words like classical, high-class and rich come to mind. To the general public, ballet is in the books, somewhere there, like a painting on a museum wall. But it is anything but décor, most especially for the dancers of Ballet Philippines. It is anything but antique. It breathes their bodies to life. It is life for them — they who tiptoe.

Candice and Carissa Adea are principal dancers of Ballet Philippines. They are sisters, trained in ballet since childhood, tiptoeing their way to lead roles after lead roles. And they do not fail the expectations. Candice recently won silver medal at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition, the first-ever Filipina to win at what is touted as the “Olympics of Ballet.”

Meanwhile, Carissa, who has played numerous principal roles from classical to contemporary pieces of their ballet company, is a 2010 Gawad Buhay awardee herself. After 23 long years, the sisters are playing Princess Aurora in Ballet Philippines’ restaging of Sleeping Beauty.  They each have their own brand of dancing, each with their own personalities; both will give everything for their every performance.

They Who Tiptoe offers Reel Time audience a glimpse into the lives of The Company of Ballet Philippines. The training is intense. Sleeping Beauty is a classical ballet that is ambitious to mount.

They Who Tiptoe airs tonight at 8:45 on GMA News TV’s Reel Time.