Memories of the first Corsaire
Ballet Manila was just on its third year when it embarked on one of its boldest undertakings – staging the full-length Le Corsaire back in 1998. Still a small company then, it entered into a collaboration with the Krasnoyarsk Ballet from Russia to make the series of performances happen. It would turn out to be not just the Philippine premiere of the pirate epic but also its Asian premiere. No wonder it would be such an unforgettable event for the dancers who were part of it.
Ballerinas Aileen Gallerina, Pamela Asprer, Melanie Motus and Sandralynn Huang share their thoughts from that groundbreaking Le Corsaire production, as excerpted from a story that appeared in the souvenir program for Ballet Manila’s second staging of the ballet in 2000. Added to the mix is a recent recollection from Eileen Lopez, a BM pioneer who is now the company’s co-artistic associate.
MELANIE MOTUS
Soloist
Gulnara
Le Corsaire was the first full-length production that Melanie Motus, as Gulnara, performed in with Ballet Manila.
The Le Corsaire of Ballet Manila in February 1998 was my first classical full-length ballet with BM, having entered the company just August of 1997. I remember the preparations we had with Tatiana Udalenkova and Sergei Vikulov whom I only heard of as Lisa’s teachers before. Training with them gave me the challenge of trying to reach the high standards that they always set. This production gave me so many firsts, together with the rehearsals of Swan Lake, this gave me the chance to perform in productions I have never even thought of dancing before.
AILEEN GALLINERA and PAMELA ASPRER
Soloists
Medora
Pamela Asprer is partnered by Osias Barroso Jr. in their respective debuts as Medora and Conrad.
Oh, we cannot forget our rehearsals and preparations especially with TA (Tatiana Udalenkova). We were not even starting our variations, TA would shout “Stop! Stop! Stop!” And we were not even doing a single thing. Le Corsaire was our baptism of fire in doing principal roles. It was the beginning of several full-lengths that we were to dance as leads in the repertoire of BM, and it was not a very easy task. We felt that everyone was relying on us especially since Lisa [Macuja Elizalde] would not be performing.
Actually, preparations were not a breeze. We were rehearsing three different pas de deux. Aside from Corsaire, we had several productions of Swan Lake and there were times when steps and dances were mixed! In fact, during the actual performance itself, we were still being told where to go and we just followed even if we didn’t understand a single word.
Le Corsaire will always be memorable for the two of us because the pas de deux was our first grand pas de deux with fouettés (the 32 series of turns on one leg) and we did not exactly do well. So during the full length itself, we were still not sure if we would survive and pull it off, the pas de deux and everything else! Gladly, everything turned out well and it was indeed a relief! At least we redeemed ourselves!
EILEEN LOPEZ
Soloist
Lead Algerian
Eileen Lopez dances the lead in Algerian Dance with Jeffrey Espejo as the slave trader Lankadem.
I remember dancing as the Lead Algerian with some Ballet Manila dancers as my corps de ballet. Jeffrey Espejo was our Lankadem and he was selling us as slaves to the highest bidder.
I also remember being told to learn the Naila Waltz during theater week. I forgot if a Russian dancer got injured or they just wanted to include me. But they told me about it last minute, on our way to Meralco Theater. So I had to learn as soon as I got there. I was so nervous that time. I looked like a Filipino spy among Russian dancers. Ha ha ha! Even then, with BM, you had to be ready for anything!
It was a memorable and exciting experience. We had a lot of fun in this collaboration with the Russians!
SANDRALYNN HUANG
Soloist
Production Assistant
Aileen Gallinera makes her debut as Medora in the Philippine and Asian premiere of Le Corsaire.
I was seven months pregnant with my baby Kristen when Ballet Manila did Le Corsaire in 1998. Like Lisa, I was kept at the sides during the entire production, acting as a production assistant and stage manager from time to time. It was funny and weird at the same time. I remember the Russians whom we had worked with before in previous productions were so surprised to see just my stomach being so fat! But most of them were encouraging and warm, and some were even suggesting names for my coming baby! Watching from the wings my friends bravely attacking their dances and variations, I never failed to think, “What would I do if I were there dancing the very same role?” [In 2000, Sandralynn Huang made her debut as Gulnara in Ballet Manila’s second staging of Le Corsaire.]
