Cover Enduring love, grief and sadness are universal themes that transcend age, time, and cultures.
Enduring love, grief and sadness are universal themes that transcend age, time, and cultures.
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Filipino Romeo and Juliet? Ballet Manila's resident British choreographer Martin Lawrence created his version of the timeless classic
"Romeo and Juliet is a story that is tinged with sadness, sorrow, and endless love," says British choreographer Martin Lawrence. For its 25th performance season, Ballet Manila is injecting Filipino culture into the classic Shakespeare tragedy. The show will have its world premiere on February 18 at 8 pm, with a second performance on February 19 at 5 pm at Aliw Theatre, Pasay City.
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“I believe that stories like these still happen to this day. It can be placed in any culture and interpreted in many ways. But at the end of the day, it’s a story of lost love," Lawrence shares.
Above William Shakespeare, writer of 'Romeo and Juliet' (Photo: Poetry Foundation)
William Shakespeare, writer of 'Romeo and Juliet' (Photo: Poetry Foundation)
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Set in Verona, Italy, Shakespeare's version of Romeo and Juliet is about a young hero and heroine whose families, the Montagues and the Capulets, respectively, are sworn enemies.
Throughout the play, the star-crossed lovers' strong feelings for each other lead them to their ultimate demise, which pacifies the relationship between their families.
Related: Ballet Manila Brought The Fairytale World To The Stage
Since its release, the story had various critically-acclaimed adaptations including Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, West Side Story and Sergeir Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.
Above Maniya Barredo as Juliet and Nonoy Froilan as Romeo. Balcony scene from the ballet Romeo & Juliet. Choreography by Tom Pazik. Performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines
This time, Lawrance reimagines this iconic ballet classic as he combines notable elements from some of these versions while adding his spin—the performance is set in a quaint Philippine town with dancers dressed in astonishingly hip costumes while dancing to a mash-up of the original scores from Prokofiev and West Side Story, along with popular OPM tunes.
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“Coming to the Philippines and embracing the Filipino culture gave me the freedom to create movements for the show. Ultimately, working with the beautiful dancers of Ballet Manila helped bridge the cultural gap," Lawrence discloses. "Through this show, the audience will see that it’s possible to re-imagine the classic material into a gritty, fun ballet set in Manila.”
“I’ve intersected moments of West Side Story, beautiful OPM pieces and a song from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. I see it as an eclectic mix of music that works for the story and my choreography while giving the dancers and the audience the joy and freedom of embracing a beautiful tragedy," the choreographer adds.
See also: Ballet Philippines' 'The Nutcracker' Experience, A True Christmas Delight
Above As the literary world commemorates the 402nd death anniversary of William Shakespeare, Ballet Manila celebrates his genius by remembering the company's performances of one of his most-beloved plays: Romeo and Juliet.
Widely regarded as the most romantic love story of all time, the tale of the star-crossed lovers and their warring families continue to resonate to this day.
Tickets to Romeo & Juliet are available exclusively via ticketworld.com.ph. People may also call their number: 8891.9999. To know more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit balletmanila.com.ph.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
