I had always been fascinated with ballet ever since I was a kid. It’s all about the tutu ballet dress, the ballet shoes, the graceful moves of the dancer and the amazing story every ballet performance could give the viewers.
One of the most unforgettable ballet shows I have seen on television is “The Nutcracker.” I was just a kid that time when we accidentally saw a channel that aired the show. That was already late in the evening at Christmas eve. Since there are no classes, we were allowed to watch.
And I am very thankful that we were given that chance to watch it because it was so amazing! The story was so nice and their performance was something I could never forget.
To be honest, I always wanted to try ballet when I was a kid. But I wasn’t able to do that. That is why I sent my daughter to ballet school. She might be the one to fulfill that dream. lol.
I have some good news for you.
Did you know that you can actually watch a Philippine version of “The Nutcracker” live on stage? Yes, yes, you can!
Ballet Philippines will once again present The Nutcracker in full Filipino Splendor. This is a version by Edna Vida and Alice Reyes which adds its Filipino flavor to this worldwide holiday tradition.
The performance will be graced by guest artist Nobuo Fujino (formerly a Senior Artist at the Australian Ballet and Principal Dancer with Hong Kong Ballet), courtesy of Japan Foundation and Tan Yan Kee Foundation, and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Salonga, plays Tchaikovsky’s iconic music live on select performances.
The Storyline
Set in the Philippines in the 1920s, The Nutcracker follows our young heroine Clara on a fantastic journey. At her family’s Noche Buena, Clara receives an enchanted Nutcracker Doll from her godfather, the toymaker Don Alfonso Quintero.
Her sister gets the Sugar Plum Fairy Doll and her brother, the Rat King Doll. As midnight strikes, all the toys including her beloved Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Rat King come to life, and a battle between Rats and Toy Soldiers ensues. Her Nutcracker valiantly leads the soldiers, but is soon overpowered by the evil Rat King. Just as the Rat King delivers his final blow, Clara comes to the Nutcracker’s rescue and the Rat King falls.
As the rats scurry off with their king, Don Alfonso appears and reveals the true identity of her doll—he is the Nutcracker Prince! He and the Sugar Plum Fairy have been trapped in a spell which only a person pure of heart can break.
In gratitude for Clara’s act of courage, the Nutcracker Prince whisks her away to the Kingdom of the Dolls. A feast is celebrated in her honor as she is surrounded by dolls from all over the world, dancing flowers, and the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.
What makes this Nutcracker unique is how the late National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal incorporated Filipino design elements into the sets. The turn-of-the-century grand ballroom showcases art nouveau arches with anahaw leaves and framed capiz shells. The Nutcracker is the perfect holiday treat for children.
Where to get your tickets
Catch us on December 1-10, 2017 at the CCP Main Theater. For tickets, call Ballet Philippines at (+632) 551-1003, the CCP Box Office at (+632) 832-3704, or Ticketworld at (+632) 891-9999 or Ticketworld.com.ph.
Connect to Ballet Philippines online through the following social media networks:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/balletphilippines
Instagram: @balletphilippines
YouTube: balletph
You can also have the chance to win free tickets for “The Nutcracker” simply by joining the giveaway below:
One winner will win two (2) tickets for the show on Dec. 3’s 2pm or 7pm schedule. Join the giveaway! Who knows, you might be the lucky winner of the free tickets!
Images from Ballet Philippines Facebook page and Inquirer.net
