This Month in BM History: February 2010
Four Ballet Manila danseurs dance to Nais Ko, sung live by Basil Vadez, in a choreography by the late Tony Fabella. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde described it as a “show to swoon to.” And rightly so, because the edition of Ballet Manila’s popular Ballet & Ballads series in February 2010 was none other than premier balladeer Basil Valdez.
Ballet meets ballroom in Albert Dimarucut’s Dulce, a celebration of love and marriage featuring Sofia Sangco Peralta and Niño Guevarra as the lead couple. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
With three shows at Aliw Theater, the post-Valentine treat featured the crooner performing his signature songs such as You and Kastilyong Buhangin. Making the program extra special was him singing some of his other hits while Ballet Manila artists danced to them.
Already a staple in the Ballet Manila repertoire, Nais Ko – as choreographed by the late Tony Fabella – took the stage anew but with a twist as danseurs Alvin Santos, Romeo Peralta, Ricardo Mallari and Roduardo Ma shared the stage with Valdez.
Valdez himself was so excited about doing the series that he suggested Salamin ng Buhay be included in the repertoire. Aside from being a personal favorite of his that reflects his life's journey, Basil noted then, "It's a perfect song to dance to." A new piece was thus choreographed for this number featuring five ballerinas.
Augustus Damian III’s Reconfigured takes the spotlight in Ballet & Ballads after winning first prize in the Neo-Classical Category of Sayaw Pinoy: First NCCA National Dance Competition. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
Ballet & Ballads likewise featured: Dancing to Czerny, also choreographed by Tony Fabella; Dulce, "ballroom dancing Ballet Manila style" by Albert Dimarucut; Reconfigured, the five-minute piece by Augustus Damian III which won first prize in the Neo-Classical Category of the first Sayaw Pinoy, a dance competition organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; and Rebel, also by Damian, choreographed on Macuja Elizalde and danseur Rudy De Dios.
Basil Valdez sings one of his hits, Paraisong Parisukat, as Nazer Salgado and Mylene Aggabao perform a pas de deux. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
It would have been a full-circle moment for Macuja Elizalde, as two decades before, she had performed with Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi and Douglas Nierras in a concert called Tuliro, Ngayon at Kailanman. She was then newly returned from Russia and was into her “baby steps” dancing to Original Pilipino Music.
Unfortunately, the ballerina was injured during rehearsals, and was unable to dance in Ballet & Ballads. However, it still delivered on its promise of being a unique presentation combining the best of live performance – in ballet, in ballads and in a combination of both.
Dance and music are a powerful combination in the popular Ballet Manila series, Ballet & Ballads, which in 2010 featured Basil Valdez as guest artist. Poster from the Ballet Manila Archives collection
