What to Watch This Weekend: Ballet Manila’s “Swan Lake”
If you are in love with ballet, then Ballet Manila’s version of Swan Lake is the perfect show for you to watch this weekend!
Ballet Manila celebrates its classical roots as it brings back the iconic Swan Lake, with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and music by Peter Tchaikovsky.
For those of who aren’t familiar with Swan Lake, here’s a summary: Prince Siegfried meets and falls in love with Odette who is cursed to become a swan at night. But he is tricked by the evil Rothbart into falling for Odile, the Black Swan, whom he mistakes for Odette.
Siegfried realizes his mistake and asks for Odette’s forgiveness. Together, the reunited lovers jump into the lake, break the spell on the other girls-turned-swans and vanquish the pair of Rothbart and Odile, before ascending to the heavens above Swan Lake.
According to prima ballerina and Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (who danced her final full-length performance of Swan Lake in 2011), the dual role of Odette/Odile is regarded as one of the most difficult roles in the classical ballet repertoire. “Swan Lake was first choreographed to feature two ballerinas – one to dance as Odette, and the other as Odile. Both roles later came to be danced by just one person.”
“It’s a quite a superhuman feat and really demanding on your stamina,” she explains. “Another challenge is to transform into two completely different characters – the lyrical, vulnerable Odette and the seductive and cunning Odile.” That’s why Ballet Manila’s finest ballerinas Mylene Aggabao, Dawna Mangahas and Abigail Oliveiro will be taking on the challenging dual role of Odette and Odile in the ballet classic.
The gala show is on November 15, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Aliw Theater featuring guest artists Maxim Chaschegorov and Katherina Markowskaja of the Bavarian State Ballet. They will also perform on November 16, Sunday, 3 p.m.
Other shows are slated on November 13, Thursday, 1 p.m., November 14, Friday, 1 p.m.; November 15, Saturday, 11 a.m and 3 p.m.; and November 16, Sunday, 11 a.
m.
Ballet Manila
Tel. No. 525-5967 or 400-0292
E-mail: info@balletmanila.com.ph
Website: https://www.balletmanila.com.ph
Ticketworld: 891-9999 or ticketworld.com.ph
