Ballet Manila Moments: An environmental tale
Ballet, like all other art forms, has been actively involved in the discussion of important issues affecting the world today. This includes the care for the environment which is the subject of Ballet Manila’s Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw.
This environmental fable tells the story of Luningning, a goddess tasked to look after nature. She marries a mortal and gives birth to twins: Sibol who is kind and gentle, and Gunaw who is violent and destructive.
Eventually, Gunaw takes over the kingdom and his excesses wreak havoc on the environment. It is up to Sibol and Luningning to bring back the balance and allow life to flourish again.
The choreography was based on Ed Maranan’s unpublished book, and was choreographed by principal dancer Gerardo Francisco together with co-artistic director Osias Barroso.
The result was a lavish production with colorful costumes and breathtaking sets complementing the equally rich movements drawn from traditional Filipino dance. But while the ballet was extravagant, at its heart is the very familiar and relatable theme of family that is deeply intertwined with the state of our natural environment.
In this slideshow are scenes from the 2009 performance of Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw with prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde as Luningning, with Nazer Salgado as Kapuy, Yanti Marduli as Sibol and Francis Cascano as Gunaw.
