Galloping into the Year of the Horse

In Chinese astrology, the horse signifies energy and dynamism. It also reflects  such attributes as speed, vitality and persevarance, with success supposedly coming swiftly and effortlessly. As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, we revisit a trio of Ballet Manila productions that have featured the equine image and the role it played in each story.

The soot girl Cinderella (Abigail Oliveiro), transformed into a princess by the Fairy Godmother, is whisked off to the ball by a pair of steeds. Little does she know that it’s the beginning of her happy-ever-after as she will get to meet the Prince that evening. The magical scene is from Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Cinderella. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

On Christmas Eve, when Masha (Lisa Macuja Elizalde) sneaks downstairs to continue playing with the Nutcracker Doll, she discovers it has come to life, and she soon witnesses a battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Rat King. The sword-wielding Horsewomen are among the whimsical characters that come to her rescue and the prince’s in this scene from Act 1 of The Nutcracker (1998). Photo by Ocs Alvarez

The wealthy landowner Thomas (Marcus Tolentino) is trying to marry off his son Alain (Ricardo Mallari) to Lise in The Naughty Daughter (2008). But that the young simpleton wears a ribbon in his hair – and still enjoys hopping around on his toy horse – seem to indicate he is way out of his league with the country lass already in love with Colas despite her mother’s disapproval. Photo by Ocs Alvarez