The American Ballet Theater Studio Company is coming back to Manila and this time they will be performing with the Philippine’s very own celebrated pianist Cecile Licad, making the benefit show for Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX program one of the most awaited cultural events of the season.
“It’s a blessing to see once again how dance and music can bring many people together for a good cause to meet our goal for the Filipino youth to pursue their love for the arts,” shared Sofia Zobel Elizalde, Founder of STEPS Dance Studio, who, together with Ayala Malls and Ayala Land, is producing the event which will help in providing quality education for underserved students while also offering opportunities to grow in the different fields of the arts, “the importance of which cannot be stressed enough for a wholistic, well-rounded education,” explained Joanna Duarte, senior director of Ayala Foundation. The Foundation’s president, Ruel Maranan, was upbeat and “beyond grateful for the unwavering support of ABT with this third fund-raiser and with Cecile Licad as guest performer, it certainly raises the bar with what we can achieve.”
Everything seems to have fallen into place with what Sofia recalls as “something that just fell on my lap.” Stella Abrera, the first Filipino-American to reach the top rank of principal dancer at ABT, had contacted her and wanted to do a benefit performance in the Philippines as “a way of giving back.” The STEPS founder, not sure exactly how it could become a reality, instinctively said yes and after getting all the right people together, was able to mount the landmark 2018 “An Intimate Evening with Stella Abrera and American Ballet Stars.” This event not only raised funds for CENTEX but was actually a stepping stone for two of their scholars, STEPS dancers Elwince Magbitang and Vince Pelegrin, to receive scholarships for ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York. Stella’s husband, Sascha Radetsky, who is the artistic director of the ABT Studio Company, saw their potential while rehearsing the Don Quixote excerpt of the show and immediately sent their audition videos which impressed the school’s board.
The following year, it was a triumphant homecoming for Elwince as a new member of ABT Studio Company which performed for “Stella Abrera and the Rising Stars of American Ballet Theater,” another successful event that coincided with the inauguration of the Stella Abrera Dance and Music Hall, a school for dance in CENTEX Batangas which was built from the proceeds of the 2018 show. For this year’s edition, it’s Vince’s turn for a jubilant homecoming after securing his own place at ABT Studio Company, all set to show how he has evolved together with his fellow company members, some of the most talented dancers from all over the world.
Elwince, meanwhile, has already been promoted to the American Ballet main company, joining the corps de ballet last September and performing Lead Gypsy in Don Quixote, Puck in The Dream, the Chinese Dance in The Nutcracker, the Neapolitan Dance in Swan Lake, and a leading role in Children’s Songs Dance.
These success stories couldn’t be any more inspiring for Cecile Licad, another Filipino artist in New York, who immediately agreed to do the coming show when Stella and Sofia asked her. Called “the pianist’s pianist” by The New Yorker, Cecile will be accompanying the dancers in some choreographic works that have never been performed on the Philippine stage, as well as playing some individual solo pieces.
Doing a dance concert isn’t what the acclaimed international concert pianist and recording artist normally does but Cecile was gung-ho, citing her sense of adventure to go out of the box and the worthiness of the cause. This may be an interesting phase of her artistic journey, if her laidback video message delivered with such candor and humor was any indication, not to mention the photo she sent of herself to promote the benefit —unconventionally cropped from the eyebrows up, making you look twice and giggle over the tongue-in-cheek playfulness.
After the April 20 gala at Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati, the show will tour in Ayala Center, Cebu on April 22 and Ayala Malls Abreeza Davao on April 23, making the project even more aligned with the pianist’s outreach efforts to bring music all over the country. On her last visit in 2018, she did an extended concert tour to Manila, Baguio, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo and Roxas City.
Making the arts more democratic has also been an advocacy of Ayala Malls’ Bravo Filipino campaign that celebrates culture through fashion, food, crafts and the performing arts. “This show is the perfect start, reflecting our intention to recognize Filipino talent – whether they are performers, artisans, designers, chefs and such,” says Christopher Maglanoc, Ayala Malls president.
The recognition and nurturing of Filipino talent is a shared mission of the ABT Studio Company and Ayala Foundation whose relationship has grown from strength to strength as they offer a sanctuary where young talents can be guided by passionate mentors. The ballet company under Sascha, who is directing the gala, has been at the forefront of developing the next generation of dancers, choreographers and audiences. Stella, who is now the acting artistic director of ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, continues to share her talent in partnership with the Ayala Foundation and STEPS. Aside from starring and helping direct the gala performance in 2018 and 2019, she returned to Manila in 2022 as a Youth Grand Prix (YGP) Philippines International Ambassador and Jury Chair. This year, she and Sascha will host masterclasses at STEPS in Makati and Ayala Center in Cebu.
Perhaps the greatest reward for the ABT partnership with Ayala Foundation is seeing how Elwince and Vince have fared. “To think Vince was thinking of quitting at one time, finding it difficult to balance academic studies and dance classes,” recalled Sofia. “But I told him I wouldn’t push him if I didn’t think he had the potential.” True enough, all the encouragement paid off and together with Elwince they are now independent with their own flats in New York and dancing with one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. Elwince even made it to Dance magazine’s “2023 List of Dancers to Watch,” citing how “It’s not every day that ABT casts an apprentice in a soloist role. And yet, as Elwince Magbitang soared through barrel turns, 540s, tours and other feats in the second act of Don Quixote last June, it was clear that the company was introducing its audiences to a virtuoso talent.”
Who would think that this CENTEX scholar from Tondo would reach such heights to bring pride to his country and inspiration for other young talents like him? It makes the homecoming of Vince and the coming show with Cecile Licad even more exciting and one that fellow dancers, practitioners and arts enthusiasts cannot wait to see.
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Witness the return of the American Ballet Theater Studio Company with Cecile Licad on April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati in support of Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX program, co-presented by Patek Philippe and BPI Private Wealth, sponsored by Globe, and in cooperation with Seda Hotels, Philippine Airlines, and Pearl Farm. Tickets available at Ticketworld. For more information log on to www.ayalafoundation.org and www.ayalamalls.com Follow the authors on Instagram @rickytchitov; Twitter @RickyToledo23; Facebook - Ricky Toledo Chito Vijandre.