Alice Reyes’ ‘Cinderella’ set for gala night on Nov. 28
MANILA, Philippines - As a special pre-Christmas treat, Ballet Philippines revisits Alice Reyes’ Cinderella on Nov. 28, 8 p.m., at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Cinderella is the best-loved fairy tale of all time about a poor girl whose true worth is recognized not by her family but by a prince bearing her lost shoe.
“I have always wanted to do a ballet for children — Cinderella was the perfect material,” says Alice Reyes, Ballet Philippines’ founder and artistic director emeritus. “After all, I can’t think of childhood without Mother Goose and Cinderella. Working on a full-length ballet patterned after the traditional classic form presented many problems. The easiest way would have been to adhere to the Cinderella scenario already established by such noted choreographers as Petipa, Fokine, Sergeyev and Ashton, among others. What kept me on track in my version was the one thought that eventually became a guide: the ballet was for Chris and Sara and Marco and Carlo and little Alice and all my wonderful little friends who keep bringing ‘wonder’ into my life. I would like to give them something back in return.”
She explains, “I like Prokofiev and took immense pleasure in working with his ballet score for Romeo and Juliet. Although the ballet Cinderella is traditionally choreographed to Prokofiev, I found his Act II music too heavy and dark. So I turned to Tchaikovsky, the ‘ballet composer,’ sure that we could find enough music for a full-length ballet from all his works. After months of listening to various symphonies, suites and concertos which were researched, unearthed and presented to me by my collaborator-cum-conspirator, Rudy Vidad, the music score developed. It was then handed to Frankie Feliciano who bravely translated the material into logical form for the orchestra to play.”
First staged in 1981, Cinderella continued to be produced and performed by Ballet Philippines in 1984, 1989 and 2002.
Now on its fifth restaging and 33rd anniversary, the role of Cinderella will be played by soloist Denise Parungao and junior company member Monica Amanda Gana. This is Gana’s first lead role with Ballet Philippines, while Parungao was last seen in the title role of Ballet Philippines’ Giselle in 2013 and 2014. Playing opposite them as Prince Charming are principal dancer Richardson Yadao and junior principal dancer Earl John Arisola.
To add even more magic to this production, Madame Isabelle Garachon, wife of the French Ambassador to the Philippines and former professional dancer, will be playing the role of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, alternating with Ballet Philippines president Margie Moran Floirendo.
With a joyful mixture of kings, princes, fairies, and animals, the three-act ballet of Alice Reyes’ Cinderella is set to a collage of music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who composed some of the world’s greatest ballet music.
Alice Reyes’ Cinderella will be performed at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) on the following dates and times: Nov. 28 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), Nov. 29 (2 p.m. and 6 p.m.), Nov. 30 (2 p.m. and 6 p.m.), Dec. 5 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), December 6 (10 a.m. & 6 p.m.), and Dec. 7 (2 p.m. and 6 p.m.).
The artistic and creative teams of Cinderella are led by Alice Reyes (choreographer and librettist), Monino Duque (lighting designer), Barbara Tan-Tiongco (technical director), Victor Ursabia and Ramon Victoria (restagers) — and with set and costume design by Salvador Bernal
For bulk reservations, show buys, and inquiries, visit www.ballet.ph or call Ballet Philippines at 551-1003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.
