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THE performing arts had been hit hard once the pandemic hit our shores, including ballet. Shows and dance schools were among the first to be canceled and the last to recover. Pre-pandemic normality meant that our country’s dance companies put on three or four shows at premiere venues, while our local performing arts schools put on at least two recital shows per year.
As we embrace our lives in the new normal, I admire and appreciate how a dance school in our province was quick to innovate and find virtual solutions to promote dance as an art despite the many challenges we face. The Rhythm and Dance Center in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga under the leadership of its artistic director Rolby Lacaba ensured that its students could continue to perfect their talent and craft although through a mainly digital platform, even producing several video performances in place of their traditional summer and Christmas recitals. As a ballet mom to my daughter Sunis, the twice-weekly virtual dance lessons, while initially challenging, gave a semblance of normalcy to our home schedule and taught us how to be more resilient.
Maestro Rolby, whose long list of credentials includes impressive performances with the Philippine Ballet Theater and the production of internationally award-winning dance students, puts the city of San Fernando on the ballet map once again with the first ever Pampanga Ballet Festival Today, February 28, 2021. Perfectly culminating in National Arts Month. In the midst of the pandemic, she found inspiration in her determination to bring ballet closer to Pampanga and the rest of central Luzon, believing that local audiences do not need to go to Manila to access professionally produced ballet performances with the large number of local talents waiting. get hit. As Maestro Rolby shares, “My vision is that the Pampanga Ballet Festival will be the leading proponent of excellence in classical and modern ballet in Central Luzon and will bring inspiration and innovation in this art form through creative exchange and collaborative of experience and art. “
This year’s Pampanga Ballet Festival includes a series of workshops taught by first-rate ballet dancers and instructors, culminating in a virtual gala night through PBF’s Official Youtube Channel with an enviable list of ballet stars. from our country and international guest artists.
During its first year, PBF has attracted the participation and support of dance schools from across central Luzon and beyond, such as ArtsInMotion Studio (Bataan), Ava’s School of Dance (Laguna), Beats and Steps Arts Academy (Metro Manila ), Bulacan Ballet. and Arts Academy (Bulacan), Capa Dance Academy (Bulacan), Dance Basics (Metro Manila), Dance Theater Arts (Metro Manila), Danspace Ballet School (Metro Manila), Hampton Court Ballet (Metro Manila), House of Dance (Metro Manila), Little Steps Ballet School (Tarlac), Rhythm and Dance Center (Pampanga), Symmetry Dance Studio (Metro Manila) and JRC Zarate Dance School and Performing Arts (Rizal Province).
The classical and modern ballet dance workshops will be taught by a group of internationally renowned ballet dancers and choreographers. Multi-award-winning American dancer Joseph Phillips, known to the ballet world as its golden boy and a beloved guest artist of our nation’s leading ballet companies, will lead the Classical Ballet Workshop for Teens. Lead soloist and acclaimed Philippine Ballet Theater teacher / choreographer Lobreza Pimentel will teach the Classical Ballet Workshop for the 9-12 year old age group. Erl Sorilla, a veteran Philippine Ballet dancer and award-winning choreographer, will share his experience at the Modern Ballet Workshop for the 9-12 age group. The dance expert and artistic director of the Dance Company of the University of the Philippines, Elena Laniog-Alvarez, will be in charge of the Modern Ballet Workshop for adolescents onwards.
PBF’s first gala night will also feature captivating performances by Ballet Philippines’ own Ian Ocampo and guest artists from the Philippine Ballet Theater Kim Abrogena, Matthew Davo, Regine Magbitang, Clarise Miranda and Loby Pimentel.
The Pampanga Ballet Festival is not just a gift from the arts, but a gift of hope and happiness for all, reminding us that dance is a language that transcends the universe and even pandemics. Congratulations to all the organizers, participants and guests of the first Pampanga Ballet Festival and that this is only the first of many.
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