December 16, 2009

Ballet as educational entertainment

The teenagers yesterday were lined up to watch Ballet Manila's original two-act Filipino ballet "Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw" (Legend: Bloom and Doom). Based on an illustrated children's book written by Ed Maranan, the ever-old, ever-new story contrasts love of family vs. love of power and teaches children to care for our environment. The original choreography and the costumes were based on Filipino folkloric traditions, most of them from Filipino Muslim culture. The production was a spectacle of colors and special effects, with the mother goddess Luningning (Brilliance), danced by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, flying between heaven and earth on a moving platform attached to a track on the ceiling or using a harness. Ballet purists would have gone into conniptions, and at first, I also found it odd to see ballerinas in tribal costumes dancing en pointe but then I thought, "Why not?" Who says that ballets have to have tutus and European costumes? When I got over that hump, I could accept the production for what it was and had a grand time. The teenagers obviously had no such preconceptions and thoroughly enjoyed the ballet, judging from their enthusiastic applause throughout the performance.

Ballet Manila's production of Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw

30 comments:

Mo said...

New ballets are always welcomed here. This one looks wonderful

ALL ABOUT...Portland Oregon Real Estate said...

Gorgeous - amazing how you captured here in mid-air! Love the colors.

brattcat said...

This looks so sumptuous. You've captured it beautifully, Hilda. Thank you!!!

marley said...

It looks so colourful! Lovely.

Ken Mac said...

looks fantastic

James said...

That's a great shot Hilda. The ballet sounds wonderful.

stromsjo said...

Good to learn that the ballet tradition is very much alive and kicking. Thanks for sharing.

Louis la Vache said...

Excellent image, Hilda! You had the camera at ready and got just the right moment!

Leif Hagen said...

Looks like a lively, colorful ballet! Wish I could have taken my family there for an afternoon activity!

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Considering I am ignorant of the fine of ballet, your commentary was interesting and the sets and costumes colorful and eye-catching. Thanks for sharing.

JTG (Misalyn) said...

Aha! yan pala ang reason kung bakit nakapila ang mga teenagers, mali hula ko hehehe buti na lang hindi ko ipinost :)

Hindi pa ako nakakapanood ng ballet , as in yung show but i had some ballet lessons noong bata pa ako.

Great shot Ms. Hilda, you captured the vibrant colors of the costumes pati na rin ang background.

Lowell said...

Well, now I understand why all those young 'un's would stand in line for hours to see a "ballet"!

What a wonderful, colorful spectacle!

Sarah A. Galang, Ph.D. said...

wow, I really love to watch Liza Macuja in her ballet dance. She really dances gracefully.
Thanks for the visit anyway. Blessings to you.

http://bacolodandbeyond.blogspot.com

Don and Krise said...

Well, ballet like everything else is bound to go through some changes eventually. It looks like a colorful fun production though. It's great that the kids turned out in such large numbers too.

Thanks once again for sharing Hilda!

Olivier said...

Magnifique cette photo du spectacle, la lumiere est superbe

Dina said...

A beautiful picture.
Wish I could see that ballet.
Conniption! My grandmother used to say that and I haven't heard it since she died, many decades ago.

VP said...

I love opera and classical music but usually I find ballet absolutely boring. This looks like something different and interesting. Beautiful picture and great costumes.

Andreea said...

I think you captured the spirit of this performance very well. Beautiful shot. Looks like a beautiful performance.

Cezar and Léia said...

Brilliant event!
Thanks for this beautiful post! :)
Léia

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful decor and costumes. I always thought that tutus are creepy. Great choice! You have been able to catch so much into the frame. Very beautiful.

B SQUARED said...

I would loved to have seen it.

maricar said...

wow! never seen a ballet show before, do you have photos of our traditional "tinikling"?

Halcyon said...

I think there's nothing wrong with adapting art to the story and the audiende. I even think it's great that they used "native" costumes and such to tell a traditional story. Bravo to the performers and designers!!

Rob Siemann said...

Looks cool, modern, traditional, good!!!

George said...

This is wonderful! It's great that ballet has been 'translated' into the culture of the audience and that they have responded. The costumes and set are beautiful.

Stefan Jansson said...

What Ken Mac said.

Gunn said...

Great and colorful ART!!:-)

Fredrik said...

Amazing shot!

Unknown said...

I would like my daughter to study ballet, but my husband does not want to do if she does not agree with it but I would love to see her with her tutu and slippers. nice blog very interesting. buy viagra my husband I think that makes him so Ostina haha.

Unknown said...

I feel like in a heaven.
Very nice color combination.


....Alex

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