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By Rome Jorge, Lifestyle Editor
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Sophia Zobel among Ballet
Philippines dancers
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A new generation of ballerinas and danseurs are taking the stage. Lithesome yet powerful, each is a consummate actor who speaks with muscle and movement. For this year, the youngest will shine by shadowing the past. Pedigreed talent fortify new blood.
As Ballet Philippines (BP) premiers it’s season featuring showcasing three of Ballet Philippines best productions, New Beginnings, Coppelia and Neo-Filipino, the alumnus have come home.
Former BP company dancer Max Luna III returns—after years honed at the Ballet International de Caracas, the Joyce Trisler Danscompany and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre—as co-artistic director together with Alan Hineline. Preeminent choreographer Agnes Locsin is once again seeing her neo-ethnic choreography brought to life one more; the recent performance of La Revolucion Filipina demonstrated its timelessness. Elizabeth Roxas, former BP dancer and Tisch School of the Arts instructor, now is one of those at the helm of BP’s fundraising efforts. Her co-chairperson is also a BP company dancer alumnus—Sofia Elizalde Zobel—who returns as BP’s board member.
Zobel recall how BP became part of her childhood and coming of age.
“I started at the CCP [Cultural Center of the Philippines] dance school when I was very young. I first got involved the company because Alice Reyes [BP founder] needed me to be Clara in The Nutcracker. That’s when my love affair with the company began,” she recalls.
Zobel entered the fray at a time when the old masters lorded and strict negative reinforcement was the rule. Even today, many promising dancers give up—not only because of the unrelenting rigor of being under the constant scrutiny of stern instructors, competitive colleagues and a hall of mirrors—but also for missing out on a the “normal life” of a teenager while dancing 10 hours a day, six days a week. However, Zobel attests, “Some of the best years of my life were with Ballet Philippines.”
She recalls her stints dancing in America and England and remarks, “When I was in New York they were tough. I never felt that way in BP. What I loved about Ballet Philippines is that it’s one big family. That’s the nature of the Filipino—we’re so nice to each other. Here, people are so kind.”
Roxas agrees, “Ballet Philippines taught us not only how to dance, but we were able to learn backstage craft and acting. It propelled us on to our careers.”
As for living a “normal teenage life” of parties and friends, Zobel confesses, “I managed to still fit it in. Somehow I just did it. I think it was the discipline of the dance that taught me how to fit it all in.” On a more serious note, Zobel attests to the values inculcated by ballet: “Discipline and hard work. When you’re dedicated to an art form, it really teaches you a lot. I still am like that today now that I run my own business. I have this energy that I got from my dancing years.” Zobel’s own daughters are enrolled in ballet.
No wonder Ballet Philippines’ alumni want to give back; the dance company has so much more to offer to a new generation. It’s time for new audiences and patrons as well. True enough, Ballet Philippines is coming to the people—at the malls.
Ballet Philippines’ New Beginnings will premier on October 2, 7 p.m.; Coppelia on December 4, 7 p.m. and Neo-Filipino on March 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. all at Greenbelt 5’s The Gallery.
For details, visit www.balletphilippines.org.
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