MANILA, Philippines - One does not turn 45 every day, so Ballet Philippines is celebrating its sapphire anniversary with a sparkling Blue Moon Series, beginning with a production of the well-loved ballet Giselle, re-staged by premier danseur Nonoy Froilan.
“Giselle is very technical as well as dramatically challenging. The ballerina has to have the ability to portray a dramatic story incorporating technical variations. That’s the beauty of it,” says Stella Abrera, who will be essaying the role of Giselle along with James Whiteside as Albrecht. Both guest artists are from the renowned American Ballet Theater (ABT) in New York.
For Stella, the performance is also a homecoming of sorts. “My parents are both Filipino, but family has always been based in the US,” she explains. However, her father’s job as a civil engineer had the family moving all over the world, and when they were assigned to Manila, Stella was born. “That was great because it is the country of my heritage,” she says.
Stella was only four years old when her family moved back to California, though she has many fond memories of spending summer in the Philippines with family. But, she adds, “The last time I visited was 12 or 15 years ago. It’s been a long time, so I’m quite excited to be back.”
One of the things she is most looking forward to during this trip is eating Filipino food. “I am a sucker for longganiza!” she exclaims. “I can eat pounds and pounds of that stuff.”
It will also be Stella’s first time to perform on a Philippine stage.
Shortly after moving to the US, Stella took up ballet. “My sister had a passion for dance, and she thought it would be a good thing for me to do. So she took me to ballet class and I never stopped, I just loved it,” she shares.
At around 12 or 13, she already knew she wanted to pursue a career in ballet. “You have to have the drive to get you to a certain point at a young age because it is a young career,” she says.
At 17, she joined the ABT. “I love ABT, so it has a special place in my heart and it’s the only company I’ve ever known… it’s my home,” she says.
“They have fantastic repertoire,” she says of ABT. She has appeared in iconic roles as part of the company, including Gamzatti in La Bayadere, Gulnare in Le Corsaire, and the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. She also considers performing at Lincoln Center as a highlight of her career. “Lincoln Center is so full of history and tradition. I love being a part of that.”
The accomplished ballerina also loves traveling the world, as she is doing now. Performing for the first time in the Philippines is particularly special.
“I’m excited, nervous, and very proud to be invited to perform here. To reconnect back to my heritage is huge,” she says. “Ballet is such a big part of my life. It’s a career that’s so full of passion, so to combine that part of my life with my roots is pretty amazing.”
She adds, “The whole experience is going to be mind-blowing, I know it. Already I feel such a sense of support and excitement around the whole production. I feel so welcome and I’m excited to share the stage with these people who also have a passion for dance. It’s a bonding experience to perform with people and to tell a story for those two hours to an audience.” At the time of the interview with STARweek, Stella had just flown in from Australia where she had just completed a series of performances in Queensland with Whiteside. So far, she has met principal dancer Katherine Trofeo and soloist Denise Parungao from Ballet Philippines, who will also be playing Giselle. Stella describes her BP counterparts as “super sweet.”
Aside from rehearsing, performing and reuniting with family, Stella also has a visit planned to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. When the country was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, Stella raised funds to help the town rebuild their school. She looks forward to checking on the progress of the school being rebuilt and meeting and interacting with the residents, especially the children.
Stella’s performance on Sept. 19 is a fund-raising gala with live music by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. The Blue Moon Series continues with a gala on Sept. 26 and 27 featuring highlights from BP’s masterworks and award-winning pieces. Included in the program are iconic works like Je Tu Elle by Redha Bentifour, Bungkos Suite by Alice Reyes, Salome by Agnes Locsin, For the Gods by Denisa Reyes, Songs of the Wayfarer by Norman Walker and Tambol at Padyak by Tony Fabella.
The series is capped with a homecoming concert on Sept. 28 which promises to be a spectacular reunion of former alumni and their students, including Agnes Locsin, Perry Sevidal, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, Georgette Sanchez, Ea Torrado and more.