Portraits of fatherhood in ballet

Father knows best, so an old adage goes. As some ballet stories go, that’s not always the case. But many of them do just have their young ones’ interests in mind. And if the head of the family sometimes falters, he usually comes around when he sees that his child’s happiness is at stake – especially when it comes to matters of the heart. In our Father’s Day feature, we look at the portraits of fatherhood Ballet Manila has presented on stage, often the strict but loving parent providing guidance to his offspring.

Photos by Ocs Alvarez

In Don Quixote (2004), the local innkeeper Lorenzo (Jonathan Janolo) frowns upon his daughter Kitri’s (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) choice for a partner in the barber Basilio (Osias Barroso). He would much rather she marry the wealthy Gamache. But Kitri and Basilio, who only have eyes for each other, outwit Lorenzo so they can meet and go on their escapades. In the end, the protective father realizes how much the youngsters love each other that he wholeheartedly gives his approval to their union.

Yani (Joan Emery Sia) adores her father, Lard (Harold Salgado) in Ang Palasyo ng mga Duwende, one of the tales in Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2013). Little surprise then that when she wakes him up from an enchanted sleep, Yani happily tells Lard that she was able to do so with the help of a magical bird who turns out to be Prince Hammad (Romeo Peralta) whom she has fallen for. A grateful Lard, together with the dwarves who had befriended Yani, welcomes the prince to the family.

The Widow Simone (Jonathan Janolo) and the wealthy landowner Thomas (Marcus Tolentino) try to match her daughter Lise with his son Alain (Niño Guevarra). But Lise is in love with Colas and together, they thwart the matchmaking scheme. In Ballet Manila’s The Naughty Daughter (2008), the bumbling Alain eventually gives up on his pursuit of Lise and, in a comic twist, it seems that Widow Simone and Thomas have developed a romance of their own.

In Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, one of the stories in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2008), the King (Marvin Medina) backs out of his promise to let his daughter, Prinsesa Singsing (Yanti Marduli), marry the Prince of the Birds (Rudy De Dios) when the latter rescues his kingdom from an invasion of giants. But the princess, having fallen in love with the prince, pleads her case. When she forsakes her human form and willingly transforms into a bird herself, the King sees how deep her love is that he finally gives the feathered pair his blessing.

The stern Lord Capulet (Nonoy Froilan) decides to marry off his daughter Juliet (Katherine Barkman) to a man she does not care for in Paul Vasterling’s version of the Shakespearean tale, Romeo and Juliet (2015). The anguished young lady is unable to accept her father’s decision and later chooses – with her beloved Romeo – to take matters in her own hands, leading to a tragic end.

The woodcarver Geppetto (Jonathan Janolo) wants to have a son and wishes that the puppet he has just made comes to life in Osias Barroso’s adaptation of Pinocchio (2004). The Blue Fairy grants his wish, but the stubborn Pinocchio (Roduardo Ma) gets into all sorts of misadventures. Fortunately, when he learns his lesson, Pinocchio is magically turned into a real boy and is reunites with the only father he has known.

Indulgent with his daughter Gamzatti (Marian Faustino), the Rajah (Marvin Medina) chooses Solor as a suitable husband for her in the dramatic La Bayadere (2006). While initially hesitant, Gamzatti changes her mind when she sees the portrait of the dashing warrior. But things get complicated when father and daughter learn that Solor has fallen in love with the temple dancer Nikiya. Carrying matters to the extreme, they then plot to get rid of Nikiya so Gamzatti can push through with her wedding to Solor.