Philippine Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’ enthralls Silay

PEOPLE of Silay City, Negros Occidental witnessed the classic fairy tale ballet The Nutcracker performed by the Philippine Ballet Theatre at the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center on Saturday night.

The Nutcracker, often staged during Christmas time, tells the story of a young girl’s personal awakening on a Christmas holiday.

The classical ballet has become the most frequently performed in the world, and last weekend, about 1,200 Silaynons were treated to such a spectacular show.

Acts

Three acts – “The Silberhaus Home,” “A Pine Forest,” and “The Land of Sweets” – were presented during show with the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The act started on a Christmas Eve when family and friends gathered to decorate a beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for a party.

As the party begins, a magician and a talented toymaker brought a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man, used for cracking nuts.

The nutcracker grows to life size when suddenly mice begin to fill the room that led to a battle, where the latter were defeated.

The next setting was a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around and beckon on to the prince's kingdom.

The last act was a celebration of sweets from around the world in honor of the young heroine. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.

A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers the young heroine and the prince down from their throne, leading to a reindeer drawn sleigh to wave goodbye.

‘Once in a lifetime experience’

The Philippine Ballet Theatre performed in Silay through the effort of the Filipino Heritage Festival led by its president Armita Bantug-Rufino with the support of the City Government of Silay.

Mayor Mark Golez said Silaynons were able to see one of the most popular ballet shows showcased by the Philippine Ballet Theatre at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) every year as part of the company’s Christmas presentations.

“It was one of the best performances we have seen,” Golez said, adding that it was a once in a lifetime experience for Silaynons. “It was good for Silaynons, for the city, tourism, and ballet enthusiasts.”

The mayor said the show is intended to strengthen awareness and appreciation of Filipino art and talent among his constituents, including the children.

He thanked the Filipino Heritage Festival for the initiative that promotes the culture and the arts.

The Philippine Ballet Theatre, founded in 1987, has established itself as the pre-eminent classical ballet company in the Philippines today. It was borne out of an alliance of leading dance groups in the eighties, but immediately won recognition as the CCP’s resident ballet company.

Sponsors

The City Government of Silay expressed its gratitude to the sponsors Asenso Silay Foundation Inc., Mrs. Dolores Lopez, Mrs. Olivia Yanson and family, Villa Rosario (HDL Construction), Mrs. Susie Bayot, Philippine-Hawaiian Corp., Mr. and Mrs. Arturo Ledesma, Mrs. Elisa Jison, Mrs. Tess Golez, and Mr. Jimmy Golez.

The mayor also thanked the patrons Associated Planters of Silay-Sarabia, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Louie Gatuslao, Mr. and Mrs. Teng Jacinto, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Solar Energy, Mrs. Cristina Lacson, Mr. and Mrs. Nonoy Cuaycong, Mr. and Mrs. Toto Regalado, Mr. Romulo Puentebella, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Jocson, and the Philippine National Bank.

Special thanks also went to the Philippine Airlines, Security Bank, Negros Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

For her part, Rufino said they brought to Negros Occidental the Philippine Ballet Theatre to show to the Negrosanons the CCP production during Christmas season.

“This is something different because of the stage and the set-up,” she added.

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