Ballet Philippines brings back the magic this holiday season with ‘The Nutcracker’

Published November 25, 2022, 11:54 AM

by Feliciano Rodriguez III

After two years of lockdowns, it’s time to go back to the theatre and enjoy this treasured holiday show

Ballet Philippines closes the year 2022 with a full-length, on-site, ballet of “The Nutcracker,” a first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be performances at the CCP Main Theater on Dec. 17, 8 p.m., and on Dec. 18, 2 p.m and 8 p.m.

“It’s time to go back and watch,” exclaimed Ballet Philippines’ President Kathleen Liechtenstein, at a media preview of the ballet, which was held at the beautiful and historic Mira-Nila House in Quezon City.

After two years of just watching shows remotely, Lichtenstein told guests that it was high time to get out again and enjoy ballet, and that “The Nutcracker” is the perfect piece for the “new normal” holiday season.

The Mira-Nila House was the perfect venue for the press preview. The old, genteel mansion was a suitable backdrop for the minutes-long ballet preview. The skillful Ballet Philippines dancers pranced, twirled, and wowed guest at the mansion’s courtyard. The ballet company also showed off the wondrously designed costumes that are to be featured in this year’s “The Nutcracker.”

Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk was also present, “The uniqueness of our performance is its high level of musicality. Every scene is built precisely to the rhythm of the composer’s work.”

Lichtenstein also revealed that this year’s The Nutcracker will be extra special, as it will be performed to live music from the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

“Playing time-honored compositions of Peter Tchaikovsky, audiences can expect complete enchantment as music and dance transport senses to the Land of The Sugar Plum Fairy,” they shared.

Choreographed by Martynyuk, this full length performance of The Nutcracker brings the complete Christmas experience to audiences. Martynuk explains, “We are creating a fresh version while still respecting the classical version of the play. The performance will not only uphold the motives of E.T.A Hoffman’s Nutcracker and The Mouse King, it equally showcases the brilliant libretto of Marius Petipa.”

For tickets to Ballet Philippines’ The Nutcracker, visit www.ballet.ph or go to TicketWorld

Ballet Philippines' Principal Dancer Retires

ABS-CBNnews.com

Katherine Trofeo. Photo: Handout

MANILA – Katherine Trofeo, the principal dancer of Ballet Philippines (BP), is hanging up her pointe shoes.
Fondly called “Mommy Kit,” Trofeo was recently presented with roses onstage as the curtain fell on the last show of BP’s Sapphire Season. Her last role as principal dancer was the psychic vampire Gonongleda in “Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical.”
Despite her retirement, Trofeo will continue to teach intermediate ballet in the BP Dance School’s Summer Dance Workshop.
“I look forward to watching the younger dancers bloom and find their own voices in our art form,” she said in a statement released by Ballet Philippines. “BP has always had this culture of excellence and passion for dance. I was very privileged to have experienced that and humbled by how the creators of the company along with past directors and ex-dancers keep giving and passing on their knowledge to the current generation.”
“I look forward to being part of that… of those who keep coming back and helping the family out,” she added.
Trofeo started taking up ballet at the age of 8 and turned professional at 15 under Enrico Labayen’s Lab Project.
She joined Ballet Philippines in 2008 and performed lead roles such as Swanilda in “Coppelia,” Marie in “The Nutcracker,” Wendy in “Peter Pan,” Maria Clara in “Crisostomo Ibarra,” Manda in “Pusong Wagas” and Sita in “Rama Hari,” among others.