Ballet’s animal kingdom
From Swan Lake to Ibong Adarna, Ballet Manila has enthralled audiences with enchanted creatures. It has also brought life to assorted animals in many other productions, providing touches of whimsy, energy and humor. The Ballet Manila Archives takes a look at some of these feathered and furry characters that have danced their way into ballet and given boundless moments of entertainment.
In Swan Lake, under the spell of the sorcerer Von Rothbart, Odette lives out her days as a swan and goes back to human form only at night. She is the picture of vulnerability but her quiet grace belies a strength that the dancer who takes on this demanding role must possess. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde bid farewell to the dual role of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake as part of her Swan Song Series in 2011.
The Dance of the Cygnets in Swan Lake is one of the most well-known numbers in classical ballet. Four dancers portray how cygnets or little swans huddle and move together for protection. With their arms crossed in front of one another, each holding the next dancer’s hands, they must move in synchronized precision with each step and head movement.
A dancing rooster who is also joined by chickens sets the tone for the lighthearted ballet La Fille Malle Gardee (The Naughty Daughter), with the story interwoven into farm life and a countryside backdrop. The ballet is about the couple Lise and Colas who must outwit those trying to get in their way to be with each other.
Principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro channels the iconic creature of Philippine legend in Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna, simulating the flapping of wings and even bird-like head turns. In this ballet interpretation, the Adarna has a pas de deux with the youngest prince Don Juan who manages to capture her and bring her home so that its magical voice can cure the ailing king.
In Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna, the princes searching for the mythical bird encounter all sorts of animals. Among these is a group of boisterous monkeys who fight over a bunch of bananas and playfully tangle with each other, providing a comic relief to the epic adventure.
Ballet Manila scholar Juan Angelo De Leon soared to a bronze finish at the Asian Grand Prix in Hong Kong in 2019, dancing the Blue Bird Variation from The Sleeping Beauty. In the story, the Blue Bird is among the guests at the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré.
In Act 3 of The Sleeping Beauty, the White Cat is among the fairty-tale characters who have been invited to the wedding. She partners with Puss in Boots in a pas de deux, but steals the spotlight even on her own with her feline charm. Missy Macuja Elizalde “purr-formed” the role in 2014.
In Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella, the titular heroine remains true to the spirit of the fairy-tale character – a kind-hearted girl with a soft spot for animals. Her creature friends – mice, frogs and a racoon – always find ways to bring her cheer. One day, they stumble upon a pumpkin in the forest which they give to Cinderella as a surprise gift.
Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, featured in Severino Reyes’ Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, offers a twist to the Swan Lake story. Instead of being cursed and changed into an animal, the princess (Katherine Barkman) willingly chooses to transform into a bird so that she can be with her beloved who happens to be the prince of the birds (Elpidio Magat).
The Rat King leads his gang in a battle with the Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker. It is one of the most exciting sequences in the popular Christmas ballet, with the villain unceremoniously exiting when a slipper is thrown his way by Masha.
In Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Snow White, the titular character befriends animals that populate the forest beside her adopted home. While the seven dwarfs steal scenes with their antics, the deer and a host of bunnies also have their endearing traits.
