With a cast of almost 100 and with “Golden Boy of Ballet” Joseph Phillips and Veronica Ylagan in the lead, the Philippine Ballet Theater headed by President Sylvia Lichauco de Leon will present The Nutcracker Ballet Suite.
The spectacular production at the CCP main auditorium manifested to a most remarkable degree the technical skill, grace and musicality of both the soloists and the corps de ballet.
“These talented young boys,” she points to a particular picture, “come from a poor family of nine children all sleeping in one room.” They attended the workshops and were named apprentices last year. PBT’s Russian ballet instructor Anatoli Panasyukov (whom everybody calls “Papa”) see so much potential in them.
Based in Russia, the heartland of ballet, he is one of the few Americans to make it in the major companies that have remained exclusive to Russians. Phillips is a principal dancer of the Primorsky Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladivostok, Russia’s port city. Primorsky is a satellite of the legendary Maryinsky (formerly Kirov) Ballet, the company that honed such icons as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova and Rudolf Nureyev.
This latest Don Q in Manila is one more big reason why PBT should get equal support from the country’s dance lovers and corporate sponsors.
Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) will present Le Corsaire -- with music by Adolphe Charles Adam and original choreography by Francois LeComb -- this weekend as a full-length ballet with two acts, featuring Lemuel Capa and Nordic Caraig alternating as Conrad, Veronica Ylagan and Regine Magbitang playing Medora, and Joanna Galeste and Lobreza Pimentel alternating as Gulnare.
The PBT interpretation of Le Corsaire features main dancers Veronica Ylagan and Lemuel Capa to play the lead roles Medora and Conrad, respectively. Le Corsaire was presented by PBT last summer at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.
The PBT hopes to develop and educate a new, wider audience with this production, and hopefully keep them coming back for more. Ballet has always been seen as an elitist art form, although when members of the PBT perform in malls and school gyms in national tours, they often find a very receptive audience. So how do you convince them to come to the CCP, instead of spending their Saturday night clubbing or malling?
In its bid to have more people outside their usual market appreciate and enjoy the dance form, Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) presents “Sayaw At Serye,” which combines musical theater with classical dance and local soap opera.
“PBT was born after the EDSA Revolution. But its spirit was kindled long before that historical event–in the ‘70s through the short-lived Ballet Federation of the Philippines, conceived in 1976 to showcase dancing in the Philippines.
This comic ballet is about a life-size dancing doll created by Dr. Coppelius that is so lifelike that Franz becomes infatuated with it. His true desire, Swanilda, dresses up as the doll to show him his folly.
The University of the East, in cooperation with Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT), through the UE Office of Cultural Affairs (UEOCA), will present “Coppelia” on Tuesday, September 4, at 5 p.m. , at the UE Theater, UE Manila Campus.
The matinee and evening shows of Coppelia will be preceded by a tea party where children are asked to bring their favorite dolls to be dressed in tutus.
This year, PBT will open the season with the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet from July 7 to 10. This will be staged and directed by the world-acclaimed prima ballerina and an original member of PBT, Maniya Barredo. This was the signature work made for her when she was the principal dancer of Atlanta Ballet Company by Tom Pazik who is one of the leading choreographers of the American Ballet Theatre.
The spectacular production at the CCP main auditorium manifested to a most remarkable degree the technical skill, grace and musicality of both the soloists and the corps de ballet.
Hailed by the international press as “Ballet’s Golden Boy,” Joseph Phillips is a rare technically astute dancer with an impressive array of awards and medals. Phillips holds more internationally prestigious gold medals for dance than any other American dancer and was also awarded the Les Etoiles de Ballet in Cannes and Paris (France). He was also awarded the Key to Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina (USA).
Phillips’ Olympic quality accomplishments were recognized when he was chosen to light the Olympic torch in the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition Opening ceremonies.
Following closely upon his successes in the competitive arena of international ballet Phillips was invited to join the San Francisco Ballet and then became soloist with the Miami City Ballet. He currently dances with the American Ballet Theatre where he continually garners both critical and audience accolades.
Phillips began his dance studies in Columbia, South Carolina. He completed his studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and also attended both the School of American Ballet and the SC Governor’s School for the Arts. His main teacher and coach is Stanislav Issaev. He was also trained and coached by a galaxy of ballet’s most celebrated teachers including Warren Conover, Shamil Yagudin, Melissa Hayden, Gyula Pandi, Helgi Tomasson and Edward Villella. His repertory is extensive and equally as impressive.
Phillips is noted not only for the clarity and purity of his dance lines, but also for the strength and virility he brings to every role together with the magnetic energy and flawless musicality he brings to his performances. He is truly a classical bravura dancer. He is invited to perform as principal guest artist throughout the North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Source: http://josephphillips.org
Phillips will star in Philippine Ballet Theatre's upcoming rendition of Don Quixote, which runs from July 4 to 8, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.