Christmas Flashback: Ballet dancers and circus artists bring unmatched ‘Joy!’

Ballet Manila has staged the popular holiday ballet The Nutcracker repeatedly, with its whimsical tale of a nutcracker-turned-prince, a sugar plum fairy and dancing snowflakes. Apart from that staple, the company has also enjoyed unwrapping original productions that reflect the spirit of a true Filipino Christmas. We revisit these locally flavored vignettes that have not only brought cheer but offered thoughtful messages and valuable lessons so perfect for the season.

Ballet Manila premiered its Pasko na Naman Muli Christmas production in 2014. It was such a big hit among Star City audiences that during the holiday season the following year, it made a comeback on stage – but with a twist. Increasing the fun factor, it was merged with the Circus D’Ballet concept, thus bringing together 30 Ballet Manila dancers and 30 circus artists that included acrobats, contortionists, a unicyclist, jugglers, clowns, a magician and aerialists. The new offering was dubbed Joy! Directed and choreographed by Osias Barroso with additional choreography by Gerardo Francisco, Jonathan Janolo, Michael Divinagracia and Rudy de Dios, it featured two mime artists and a magician meeting and taking the audience on a musical journey using the popular Christmas songs Joy to the World, Pasko na Naman, Pasko na Sinta Ko, Hele and Kumukutikutitap as they encounter three angels that lead them to the nativity scene.

Photos by Jimmy Villanueva

Three angels – portrayed by ballerinas Dawna Reign Mangahas, Katherine Barkman and Abigail Oliveiro – lead the way to the nativity scene. 

Contrasting with his colorfully clad barkada, Anselmo Dictado in an all-white get-up leads the gang in a rousing Christmas countdown aptly performed to the Apo Hiking Society’s Labindalawang Araw ng Pasko.

The poignant Christmas hymn Pasko na Sinta Ko gets the Circus D’Ballet treatment as a couple dances to and a group of aerialists moves in harmony with the song’s heart-stirring lines. 

Dawna Reign Mangahas and Mark Sumaylo form one of two pairs featured in Hele, inspired by Gary Valenciano’s Hele ni Inay which extolls a mother’s love. 

It’s a hoopla, quite literally, as these ballerinas led by Katherine Barkman (leftmost) handle neon-colored hoops as they dance to the merry strains of Paskong Darating. 

This young girl makes being an aerialist look so easy in one of the numbers cheered by the Christmas crowds..

A white Christmas, done the Ballet Manila way! This exuberant production number fittingly underscores the show’s title – Joy!