Cover “Do You Care?” performed by Brady Farrar of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
“Do You Care?” performed by Brady Farrar of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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In a rare opportunity, foremost Filipina pianist Cecile Licad collaborates again with the ABT Studio Company, this time leaving Filipino audiences in awe
Another promising batch of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company stole the hearts of many Filipinos on its recent visit. As a continuing tradition of ABT’s former principal dancer Stella Abrera and ABT Studio Company’s artistic director Sascha Radetsky, the new crop of ABT hopefuls showcased their undeniable talent in the Philippines for the benefit of CENTEX students.
But what made the third visit of ABT Studio Company to the country extra special was the addition of the acclaimed piano virtuoso Cecile Licad to the lineup for the gala kick-off in Manila. Not only did the ABT Studio Company perform at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, but it was also well-received at Ayala Center Cebu and Ayala Malls Abreeza in Davao.
Above Cecile Licad (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
Cecile Licad (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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At the gala kick-off, ABT Studio Company charged through a powerful modern opening with choreographer Houston Thomas’ Knife’s Edge, then mellowed with Aleisha Walker’s award-winning piece Do You Care? Then Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Pas de Deux took the audience back to ballet’s classical roots but later abstractly contrasted by Hope Boykin’s If It Ain’t Ba-Roque.
The show was stolen by the stupendous display of technique and strength of Madison Brown and Takumi Miyake in the second-act opening with Vasily Vainonen’s Flames of Paris. It was later grounded by the sublime Concerto, choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan using the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. This established the beginning of the piano pieces, a perfect transition to Licad’s Rachmaninoff performance. She was later joined onstage by fellow Filipino Vince Pelegrin in Daniel Ulbricht’s choreography of Art Tatum’s Tatum Pole Boogie. This piece, Licad shared, challenged her to think and showcase her talent like a jazz pianist. Licad took the audience on an emotional roller coaster with her three-part Frédéric Chopin’s Étude Op. 25, which silently reminded the audience what the show was for.
Read also: A ballerina’s journey: Jemima Reyes on why it’s not for the faint of heart
Above “…if it ain’t BA-ROQUE” performed by Madison Brown, Finnian Carmeci, Kyra Coco, Brady Farrar, Lilia Greyeyes, and Takumi Miyake of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
“…if it ain’t BA-ROQUE” performed by Madison Brown, Finnian Carmeci, Kyra Coco, Brady Farrar, Lilia Greyeyes, and Takumi Miyake of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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Above “Knife’s Edge” performed by Madison Brown, Kayke Carvalho, YeonSeo Choi, Kyra Coco, Takumi Miyake, Sylvie Squires, and Alejandro Valera Outlaw of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
“Knife’s Edge” performed by Madison Brown, Kayke Carvalho, YeonSeo Choi, Kyra Coco, Takumi Miyake, Sylvie Squires, and Alejandro Valera Outlaw of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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The primary goal was to gather support towards Ayala Corporation’s commitment to opening the doors for deserving scholars passionate about the arts.
“It’s wonderful to see time and time again how the arts can bring many people together for a common cause,” STEPS Dance Studio founder Sofia Zobel Elizalde said.
Above Tschaikovsky’s “Pas de Deux” performed by Sylvie Squires and Vince Pelegrin of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
Tschaikovsky’s “Pas de Deux” performed by Sylvie Squires and Vince Pelegrin of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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One of the studio company’s rising stars is Pelegrin, a former Pacita Madrigal scholar under the STEPS Scholarship Foundation. At the age of eight, Pelegrin started training at STEPS until he was spotted by Radetsky in 2018. He later went to ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School under the helm of Abrera and now tours the world as a member of the ABT Studio Company. Like many ABT ‘rising stars’ before him, Pelegrin could land a spot at ABT.
Ayala Corporation’s CENTEX programme provides after-school classes on music, dance, visual, and performing arts for students in underserved communities. This endeavour, power couple Abrera and Radetsky greatly support.
Read also: Architect Carlo Calma delves into theatre with Ballet Philippines’ new production, ‘Diyosa’
Above Frédéric Chopin’s Étude Op. 25 No. 10 in B Minor “Octave”, Étude Op. 25 No. 11 in A Minor “Winter Wind”, and Étude Op. 25 No. 12 in C Minor “Ocean” performed by Cecile Licad (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
Frédéric Chopin’s Étude Op. 25 No. 10 in B Minor “Octave”, Étude Op. 25 No. 11 in A Minor “Winter Wind”, and Étude Op. 25 No. 12 in C Minor “Ocean” performed by Cecile Licad (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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As one of today’s lauded artists who had the privilege of being supported throughout their training and careers, Licad shared her enthusiasm for being part of this benefit show.
“I love that it’s helping a lot of people who can’t afford these lessons,” Licad said, then quickly shared that she also took one ballet dance lesson when she was still a child but never got the shoes she desired.
She recalled that this momentous collaboration between her and the ABT began at an outdoor arts festival at the Kaatsbaan cultural park in New York. She worked with renowned choreographer Gemma Bond for The Go Between, which featured the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti.
Above “The Go Between” performed by Madison Brown, Kayke Carvalho, Yeonseo Choi, Brady Farrar, Lilia Greyeyes, Vince Pelegrin, Sylvie Squires, and Alejandro Valera Outlaw of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
“The Go Between” performed by Madison Brown, Kayke Carvalho, Yeonseo Choi, Brady Farrar, Lilia Greyeyes, Vince Pelegrin, Sylvie Squires, and Alejandro Valera Outlaw of ABT Studio Company (Photo: Jojo Mamangun)
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“It’s like the dancers and I are a chamber orchestra,” Licad said, describing the connection between her and the ABT Studio Company dancers. “They have such innate rhythm inside their bodies,”—which she grooved into as well, she said. This was not the first time Licad played the piano in ballet performances in the Philippines. The memorable The Legends and the Classics in 2013 featured Licad with prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and Broadway diva Lea Salonga on one stage. And yet, the so-called “Pianist’s pianist” tirelessly rehearsed and collaborated with the young dancers of ABT Studio Company. Licad had nothing but praises for the “rising stars”, she shared with Tatler.
The Gemma Bond piece was a fitting finale as it was met with thunderous applause and standing ovations, which hopefully, opened the minds of an aspiring artist from the audience.
Read also: National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab on hitting the right notes towards his legacy
Patxi Elizalde, Sofia Zobel Elizalde, Stella Abrera, and Sascha Radetsky
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This benefit gala show was presented by Patek Philippe and BPI Private Wealth, and produced by STEPS Dance Studio, Ayala Malls, and Ayala Land for the benefit of CENTEX.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
