Korean ballet group collaborates with Ballet Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Ballet Manila announces its intercultural team-up with one of Korea’s finest ballet groups for a back-to-back performance on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Star Theater in Pasay City.

“The show, dubbed ‘Duo: A Benefit Gala with Choi So Bin Ballet Company,’ is a culmination of Ballet Manila’s DUO projects — a series of collaborative productions with dance and theater companies around the world. We are proud of having Choi So Bin Company as our first official Duo partner,” says Lisa Macuja Elizalde, artistic director and principal dancer of Ballet Manila. 

This memorable evening of world-class dance and music, will feature Ballet Manila dancing Bam Damian’s world premiere of Less Sylphides, Alberto Dimarucut’s ballroom to ballet medley Dulce and Damian’s neo-classical opus Ilsa Dyur in the first part. The second part presents Choi So Bin Company’s multi-awarded performance of Fire. Butterfly. Dream.  This dance interpretation of a timeless Korean tale of heroism and courage is a fusion of dance, music, epic narration, and visual choreography all combined into one powerful masterpiece that had won kudos not only in South Korea but in other countries where it had been performed.

This is the first time that Manila audiences will see this artistic rendition of the story of Queen Myeong Seong, a very prominent icon of democracy and pillar of strength in Korean history. Moreover, this lyrical story has been highly popularized in Korea through various films, books, plays and dance. Choi So Bin Ballet Company’s Fire. Butterfly. Dream. was awarded the gold medal in the National Ballet Competition of Korea two years ago and has since been performed in Taiwan, Cambodia and all over South Korea.

Composed of 44 dancers, the Korean ballet company headed by Dr Choi So Bin continues to win recognitions across the Asian region. In 2007, they were given a special award in the Tokyo Nagano International Concourse. The group has also bagged the grand prize for two consecutive years (2007-2008) at the Heungtaryeong Street Parade. In 2009, they earned the Presidential Award and the Best Performance Award at the Korea’s National Dance Festival.

Choi So Bin Company is also well known for its support of humanitarian causes and charitable institutions. Proceeds of the “Duo” show will benefit the Philippine Christian Foundation (PCF), a non-government organization that runs a school for 600 underprivileged children in Tondo. DUO is sponsored by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Fe Panlilio Jewelries, Center Table Catering and Casa Flores de Belen.          

For inquiries, call Ballet Manila at 400-0292 and 525-5967. Tickets are available through Ticketworld. For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999, 0916-3403919 or 0921-5642108.