BM artists join dance-for-a-cause in Iloilo
Novy Bereber (center), founder of Sayaw PD and artistic director of Restless Heart, with Ballet Manila guests (from right) – soloist Joshua Enciso, principal dancer Gerardo Francisco Jr. and wife Jed Francisco, and soloist Shaira Comeros.
Ballet Manila principal dancer Gerardo Francisco Jr. and soloists Joshua Enciso and Shaira Comeros were among the artists who participated in Restless Heart, a benefit show for a non-profit group that uses dance to help those afflicted with Parkinsons Disease.
The three-performance show was held on November 11 and 12 at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Cultural Center in Iloilo City, Iloilo.
Ballet Manila soloists Joshua Enciso and Shaira Comeros perform the Don Quixote grand pas de deux in Restless Heart, a show staged in Iloilo for the benefit of the Bereber Sayaw Organization for Parkinson’s Disease.
For Francisco Jr., it was a chance to support hometown friend Novy Bereber, a Filipino-Australian contemporary dance choreographer who founded the Bereber Sayaw Organization for Parkinson’s Disease. Bereber, through Sayaw PD, holds free dance classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their families and caregivers.
“It’s our way of giving back. Helping out for a good cause is always welcome, especially if we’re able to do it through our art,” said Francisco, who is also the resident choreographer of Ballet Manila. He performed Bereber’s contemporary choreography, Flamenco, in Restless Heart.
Comeros, who danced the Don Quixote grand pas de deux with Enciso, echoed Francisco’s sentiments and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with fellow dancers. It was the pair’s first time to perform in Iloilo. “It was inspiring. We met old and new faces in the industry. Most of the dancers came back from retirement to join the benefit show.”
Restless Heart was the first time in six years, after 2016’s Dance MNL festival, that representatives of the country’s three leading ballet companies – Ballet Manila (BM), Ballet Philippines (BP) and Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) – danced together on one stage.
For Comeros, the show became doubly special when a young girl, the daughter of ballet teacher Elena Alvarez and choreographer-husband Herbert Alvarez, watched the performance and came to meet her afterwards.
Photos courtesy of Shaira Comeros
Shaira Comeros poses with a young fan who says she now wants to take dance classes after watching the ballerina and partner Joshua Enciso dance the Don Quixote grand pas des deux.
“They said she used to refuse to take ballet lessons before. Tapos nu’ng napanood niya ‘yung Don Quixote namin, na-inspire siya. Ready na raw siya mag-take ng lessons ngayon,” the ballerina enthused.
The girl supposedly even kept asking her parents if she could watch the video clip they took of the Don Quixote number, saying “I want to watch Princess Kitri and Prince Basilio on your phone.”
Apart from BM’s Francisco, Comeros and Enciso, Restless Heart also featured a host of other performers: Kealan McLaughlin, principal dancer of the Estonian National Ballet; Loby Pimentel, former PBT principal dancer; Carissa Adea and Clark Rambuyon, former BP principal dancers; Cyril Fallar, former BP senior soloist; Mark Anthony Grantos, formerly of BM and BP; Georgette Sanchez, former member of Staatstheater Am Gartnerplatz in Munich, Germany; Joce Sta. Maria, from the Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance, London; Sophia Ailsa Maunahan, UP Dance Company senior member; Joem Pama Junsan, artistic director of the D&J Dance Company in Passi City and senior company member of the Sidlangan Dance Company; Ruth Lynn Grace Lazaro, artistic director of Dreamers Academy Dance Studio; Maria Elena Laniog-Alvarez, ballet mistress, dancer, teacher and choreographer; Herbert Alvarez, ballet master and dance choreographer; and the Bereber scholars Alexandro Deles, Zen Kate, Lee Izach, JM Clarito and Joffet Clarito.
Restless Heart also featured the world premiere of Tamawo which portrays a distinctively Ilonggo type of engkanto that likes to be near bodies of fresh water connected to forests. The choreography uses the music of composer Krina Cayabyab.
The benefit show also relied on the support of visual artists, fashion designers, a dedicated production team and other creatives.
Francisco expressed hope that BM’s participation not only helped raise awareness for Bereber’s Sayaw PD, but also contributed to the growth of arts and dance in his home province.
Geri Francisco (standing, left) shares a light moment with Cultural Center of the Philippines production designer Eric Cruz who served as set designer for Restless Heart, and (seated) National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and CCP chair Margie Moran.
