After having had holiday crowd drawers in The Nutcracker, Pinocchio, Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang and Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw, Ballet Manila staged Maligayang Christmas with four shows in December 2011 at Aliw Theater.

At its heart was an original Filpino Christmas ballet called Kutitap, a one-act Filipino Christmas ballet meant to tug at the audience’s heartstrings. It was a unique collaboration of nine resident Ballet Manila choreographers – Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Osias Barroso, Rudy de Dios, Gerardo Francisco, Niño Guevarra, Michael Divinagracia, Ricardo Mallari, Romeo Peralta and Roduardo Ma.

Set to favorite Christmas carols arranged by Arnold Buena, Kutitap evoked both joy and melancholy with stories focusing on a returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW), a romantic triangle and a miraculous transformation. Filipino traditions such as the simbang gabi and noche buena were also woven in to add a festive flavor.

Aside from Kutitap, Maligayang Christmas also featured the world premiere of Manuel Molina’s The Light which he specifically conceptualized as a symbolic pas de trois of the Holy Family.

Rounding out the production were the environmentally themed Green by Hazel Sabas-Gower and the classical pieces Pas d’Action from Act 2 of La Bayadere and Diane et Acteon Pas de Deux from Esmeralda.

After the run of Maligayang Christmas, Kutitap was subsequently presented as a free treat for Star City visitors throughout the holiday season that year.