Storytelling on toes with Anvil Publishing & Ballet Manila

Manila, Philippines - Imagine Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, the well-loved story by Lola Basyang (Severino Reyes), retold for the Anvil Publishing, Inc. children’s series, interpreted in dance by Ballet Manila’s artistic associate, Osias Barroso, with music arranged by Mon Faustino. This is actually the first suite for BM’s 2011-2012 performance season, to be glimpsed during the 29th annual convention seminar-workshop of the National Association for Early Childhood Education.

With the theme: Laro, Laruan at Palaruan: Engaging the Child in Creative and Critical Thinking, the three-day workshop began yesterday, April 29 and ends tomorrow, May 1, at the Cherry Blossoms Hotel in Ermita. It is being attended by stakeholders in early childhood education, care and development, with Dep Ed director for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Dr. Teresita Inciong, as inspirational speaker.

Anvil Publishing, Inc. is a nine-time Publisher of the Year, as cited by the Manila Critics Circle, which aims to popularize books and reading by publishing trade books for different audiences which are accessible, highly attractive and engaging. Among these is the 10-volume Ang mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang ni Severino Reyes, retold by Christine Bellen and illustrated by Frances Alcaraz. “We are so proud that this series received the 2004 National Book Award for Special Citation, and thus, are overjoyed that Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s company chose to give them life in the ballet,” says Karina Bolasco, Anvil CEO.

Ballet Manila (BM) is the only Filipino company that can capably stage a full classical repertoire in any given concert season. Onstage regularly at the Aliw and Star Theatres are critically acclaimed, full-length performances of Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Bayadere, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Le Corsaire, and other classical staples, as well as contemporary Filipino ballet pieces by some of the country’s most distinguished choreographers.

Under the watchful eyes of Macuja-Elizalde and ballet master Osias Barroso, who have drilled the company in the highly-rigorous Russian (Vaganova) method of classical ballet, BM conducts summer workshops and year-round ballet classes for young dance enthusiasts. One of its advocacies is to bring ballet to the masses, thus, they perform in far off places, in the most unlikely nooks and crannies of the archipelago.

As part of its commitment to propagate Filipino culture through ballet, BM chose three stories from the Anvil series: Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon, Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria, and Mahiwagang Biyulin. “This is one of our most ambitious projects to date and one we’re so proud of,” says Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, artistic director and principal ballerina of Ballet Manila. “It’s an all-Filipino full length ballet production inspired by the stories of one of the most beloved characters in Philippine literature, Lola Basyang, and highlights all new choreography, and original music by leading contemporary composers as well as some of our National Artists.”

For inquiries, call 302-7557, 0922-8001248.