Philippine Ballet Theatre wows New Yorkers

Philippine Ballet Theatre dancers give an amazing display of grace at the Grand Central Station, halting the busy lives of NYC commuters for one exhilarating moment. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK – Thirteen ballet dancers  of the iconic Philippine Ballet Theatre arrived in town, after a long-awaited journey, to present a collaboration of dance and music, “On Wings Of Song,” featuring the popular sounds of legendary Jose Mari Chan. After three months of preparation, the young dancers came to conquer the home of Broadway shows and amaze the audience in the city that never sleeps.

Artistic Director Ronilo Jaynario and Assistant Director Mark Pineda led the group. “The last time that our company performed here in New York was 1998,” Pineda said. “We started rehearsing and preparing for this tour three months ago. The group is enjoying the cold weather of New York. All our dancers were able to adjust with the time difference after a day.”

In “Serye at Sayaw,” an adaptation from their 2019 US tour, the dancers gave a stunning evening performance at the Philippine Center attended by Filipino Americans and distinguished guests. The Kalayaan Hall was transformed into a stage where graceful leaps, turns and twirls thrilled the audience up close. The full repertoire was a rare opportunity to experience classical ballet performance typically seen only from a distant stage.

(Left) High kicking ballerinas up close to the audience at Philippine Center. (Right) French lovers in Act 1. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco. 

Act 1 is about a boy named Jose, who grew up in the province where he met the beautiful woman of his dreams named Maria. Their teenage love blossoms with playfulness, but Maria’s fame makes Jose insecure, so he sets out to prove himself by working abroad.  He meets so many foreign women but his heart is meant only for his true love, so he goes back to his hometown after many years. Love triumphs in the end.

Familiar tunes by the award-winning music icon Jose Mari Chan plays on every scene in Act 1, from the fun-filled “Mamang Sorbetero,” “Ang Nobya Kong Sexy,” “Tsuper ng Aking Buhay” to romantic renditions of “Walking in the Moonlight,” “Can We Stop and Talk Awhile,” “Be Gentle” all matched body movements of ballerinas and the colorful billowy skirts that open like butterflies in every kick and turn. The ensemble, at times, was hard to catch while watching so close to the dancers, it seemed like a kaleidoscope of forms and bright shades of flowers gracefully blossoming before our eyes.

Filipiniana ternos fit for ballet dancing. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

A surprise French treat, “Sous la Pluie de Paris” rolled out with dancers Kim Abrogena and Matthew Davo playing their roles well in coquettish playfulness as they swung around for the portion of the story where Jose finds himself captivated with foreign women.  Soon after, the drama was back in a romantic interpretation of the song “Can We Start Over Again” and “Perhaps Love,” a contemporary ballet pas de deux played by Filipina prima ballerinas.

Act II is inspired by “teleserye” television soap operas that mirror Philippine realities of romance and hardships. “Serye at Sayaw” was originally a two-act ballet. The first act focuses on the ballet life of Marguerite, whereas the second focuses on her love story. For this US tour, we saw only the second act.

(Left) “Ikaw” dance sequence with Maria Francisco, Therese Riego, Jimmy Lumba, Gabrielle Jaynario, Sophie Tiangco and Veronica Atienza, Act II “Serye at Sayaw”. (Right) “Marguerite” played by Veronica Atienza. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

As the story goes, Marguerite, a young ballerina marries a wealthy diplomat. Eventually, she meets a charming Roberto, but she is not the only one he has his eyes on. It’s an affair that soon tumbles like a house of cards, and Marguerite knows it’s over for them. She dances with him for the last time, and she opens her heart once more to her husband, realizing her mistake in the short-lived affair and that she needs her husband more.

Famous original Pinoy music (OPM) were played throughout, “Tuwing Umuulan,” “Ngayon at Kailanman,” “Hanggang Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” “Muntik ng Maabot ang Langit” and the finale “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” with a colorful display of Filipiniana attire fashioned into danceable ballerina outfits. The dancers of Philippine Ballet Theatre levitated with such ease to give their one final vow of gratitude to an audience wildly applauding such a magnificent performance.

Finale, a vow to the audience. INQUIRER/Carol Tanjutco

The thirteen dancers worthy of accolades are Alexis Piel, Carl Lacaba, Gabrielle Jaynario, Gladys Baybayan, Jimmy Lumba, Kim Abrogena, Maika Samson, Mara Francisco, Matthew Davo, Regine Magbitang, Sophie Tiangco, Therese Riego and Veronica Atienza. They are enroute to Palm Beach, Florida for a quick break before they head to California. A video clip is available at https://youtu.be/E9xVwZLbNjw

The eclectic experience was made possible through the efforts of Hiraya Foundation, the Philippine Consulate General of New York, Sentro Rizal and Cultural Center of the Philippines. The group held a gala performance the day before as part of “Baile Filipiniana” celebration at The Plaza Hotel NYC. One last opportunity to catch the Philippine Ballet Theatre will be at Los Angeles slated on October 30 at Wilshire Ebell Theater.