FLEXING muscles in hands and legs, pivoting all
over the stage. Gosh, never to mention the nostalgic alternative crossed-over
into Enigmatic music, then turned into Juke box popular song for every scene.
You could see a wooed and amazed crowd which results in an endless and loud
applauses. Definitely, it’s a World-class performance as CCP & Ballet
Philippines showcased once again a superb performance featuring Candice Acea,
Ballet Philippines’ Principal dancer who won First Price, Senior Women’s
Division at the recently concluded Helsinki International Ballet Competition.
While her partner Jean Marc Cordero won a Special Jury Award for the Best in
Pas de Deux Technique (partnering). Featuring works by BP artistic director
Paul Alexander Morales, Agnes Locsin, Alden Lugnasin and French choreographer
Rheda.
Candice and JM during their Helsinki International Ballet Competition
Lay-out design
Let me enumerate the cut-to-cut wow performances:
* Retro/70’s
-
The music under that they used is alternative
with an emotional theme. The first two performers, a woman and man danced a
combination of modern ballet, jazz, copeoara. Their expressive performance
turned the audience hooked on the story that they’re telling. One thing that
gives zest of humor on their stunts was the left and right bashing of their
heads. Of course, the highlight was when Candice and John took the scene while
wearing a 197o’s costume and changing the spectrum of light in different hues.
Woah, the retro fever is contagious!
* Flexing-muscle
man
-
This performance is one of the oddest yet
catchy. The man mimics different kinds of animals’ movement. He loosens his
muscles all over his body and keeps on flipping, flying in the air and evolving
in an unusual creature during his scene. His facial expression gives justice to
his performance too. Perfect!
* Enigmatic
and crippling
-
Sometimes, an art has its own way of expressing
itself—whether it’s understandable or not, which makes it pleasing yet
intriguing into one’s mind and perspective. That’s what’s exactly working on my
mind while watching that longest yet one of the most “wow” piece.
The entrance of the warrior-like men gave
me an idea that’s it’s going to be a huge performance. And my hunch was correct
especially when the women, wearing an intricate designed dress started their
act. I’m wondering where the setting is from, but it seems like it’s a tribe in
which
women hold a certain control and
fierceness—in the way they hold their dress and smash it, the way they look at
the men and the way they walk held up-high. The music gives everyone an idea a
sense of urgency and alertness, because of war—not just only between different
parties, but also with gender equality. There were instances when women hold
their skirts and bash it in the air, and the sound it produced, calls the
spectator’s attention that she doesn’t want to remain passive. It consequently
depicts a feminist view.
On the other hand, the color of their dress
suits to the spotlight that they used. The intense music and sound effects add
to the thrills and chills of an ascending sequence and the height of the show. The
passion of their facial expression undeniably adds in conveying the moral of
the narrative. The choreography is exceptionally fantastic. Honestly, to
describe it as fantastic is underrated. Anyhow, the backdrop compliments the
color of the performers’ garment.
Finally, when women do the silhouette dance
it concludes that although they were born to be silent and passive (in the
context of their environment), behind that they’ll still move gracefully.
Despite the fuzziness that I felt while watching it, the
show’s impact is immense!
Intense!
* Mascara
dance
-
On this
part, I remember the Mascara festival in Bacolod. This also one of the funniest
stunts in the whole performance. The music’s beat is catchy as well, opening
your mind in the world of tribes and wildlife too.
* Music
box
-
Does
becoming a Ballerina/o became your childhood fantasy, especially when you look at
the music box then once playing it, a ballerina will start pivoting?
Never mind what your answer is, this is
what I thought of when I see a group of ballerinas dancing on this scene. It’s
classic yet dreamy. It’ll transport you into a world of sweet wonderland.
* The
Highlight
-
Closed curtains. Hmmm… Am expecting a grandiose
act on this and my anticipation was met. Open curtains….Voila, there are three
huge chandeliers hanging above the ceiling, plus the entrance of Candice
and JM. Hold up! Am I in Helsinki or in
another part of Europe? Ok, I pinched myself—I’m still in CCP. It made me sooo
proud to watch these two performed, they’re so elegant and effortless. Their
polka dots garments made me thought of candy version of Willy Wonka in Charlie
and the chocolate factory or a Matruscka doll in Russia. Gosh, I turned out to
be a fan girl waiting for their autograph after the performance. They garnered
the loudest applause! Their world-class performance made perfectly convinced us
why they won. =)
Itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow polka dots partner!
* Juke
box queen
-
“This is my life.” I became LSS with that
jukebox song used on this performance. The frontliner here is one of the
graceful dancers among all of them. She’s flexible and expert in a lot of
ballet techniques. She received great compliments such as “bravo” and standing
ovation from the people watching her.
