This Month in BM History: February 2000
Ballet Manila staged a twin bill to mark its fifth anniversary, pairing the romantic comedy The Naughty Daughter with the dream-like classic Chopiniana. Souvenir program from the Ballet Manila Archives collection
Newspaper announcement shows Osias Barroso as Colas and Lisa Macuja-Elizalde as Lise in The Naughty Daughter. Clipping from the Ballet Manila Archives collection
Ballet Manila’s season-opener in February 2000 was doubly special as it was not only Valentine month but also the company’s fifth anniversary. So how to mark both simultaneously? With a twin bill that came in the form of the romantic comedy The Naughty Daughter (La Fille Mal Gardee) and the dream-like classic Chopiniana (Les Sylphides).
Ballet Manila’s production of The Naughty Daughter is an original choreography of Sergey Vikulov using music by Herold as arranged by John Lanchbery. Writing in the program notes, the late artistic director Eric V. Cruz and then artistic associate Lisa Macuja-Elizalde said of the story of Lise and Colas: “It is amusing and funny as it is straightforward with the simplest of plots. Boy and girl love each other. Mother of girl arranges a marriage to another boy for her daughter. The two lovers meet secretly. Their shocking and scandalous discovery together leads to a wedding and a happy ending for all.”
Mother Simone (Christopher Mohnani) spins thread with daughter Lise (Pamela Asprer) to prevent her from sneaking off to see the young girl’s beloved Colas in La Fille Mal Gardee. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
Colas (Osias Barroso) and Lise (Pamela Asprer) outwit Mother Simone and manage to meet behind her back. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
Macuja-Elizalde, who was also principal dancer, found out she was pregnant just as rehearsals for The Naughty Daughter began. She was part of the pictorial for publicity materials but ultimately, she did not perform in the show upon her doctor’s advice. Soloists Pamela Asprer and Melanie Motus alternated in the role of Lise while principal danseur Osias Barroso and Jeffrey Espejo took turns as Colas.
Chopiniana is a ballet blanc or white ballet considered as choreographer Michael Fokine’s greatest work dating back to 1909. It is a short, non-narrative piece performed to piano music by Frederic Chopin. In it, a poet walks in the forest for inspiration and encounters floating sylphs – beautiful, weightless and graceful creatures who become his muses. Cast in the idyllic piece were soloists Eduardo Espejo, Elline Damian, Aileen Gallinera, Sandralynn Huang and Melanie Motus.
Ballet Manila had reason to celebrate on its fifth anniversary. That previous year, it had clocked 82 performances, solidifying its reputation as the Philippines’ most prolific ballet company.
The sylphs of the forest are beautiful, graceful creatures who become a poet’s inspiration in Chopiniana. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
