Ballet Philippines all set for Encantada

BALLET Philippines is all set to stage Encantada, a full length modern dance performance, in celebration of the 2012 Kadayawan Festival in Davao.

Slated Thursday at the RSM Events Center at the Philippine Women's College, this collaboration will feature the choreography of Agnes Locsin, the live music performance by Joey Ayala and the songs of Al Santos -- Davao's homegrown talents who are considered pillars in their respective artistic craft.

"Bringing Encantada to Davao is a dream. The thought and concept was born in Davao," Margie Moran Floirendo, president of Ballet Philippines, said.

Set during the Spanish colonial era, "Encantada" has layers of themes, stories and cultural contributions -- man's destruction of nature and its devastating consequences, the oppression and abuses faced by Filipinos under a foreign master, and ballet's undeniable contributions to the Philippine cultural landscape as well as the neo-ethnic dance style that Locsin pioneered.

Already a cultural icon, "Encantada" won 10 awards at the recently concluded Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards, the most awards for a single production including Outstanding Modern Dance Production, Outstanding Choreography for a Modern Dance Production, Outstanding Musical Composition and Outstanding Ensemble Performance (Dance).

Paul Morales, artistic director of Ballet Philippines and who is, himself, a Dabawenyo, expressed great pleasure in presenting Encantada to his hometown.

"Today, Encantada comes home to where it all started. I invite you to revel in it," said Floirendo, who also considers herself a Dabawenya by heart.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Villa Margarita with telephone number 221-5675 and Philippine Women’s College with telephone number 297-8035. Encantada is also made possible with the support of Globe Telecom.