MANILA, Philippines – World-class dance company Ballet Philippines announced that it will be reviving the hit pop-opera ballet “Rama Hari” in November.
"Rama Hari", a dance-musical based on the Indian epic “Ramayana,” was created by Ballet Philippines’ founding artistic director Alice Reyes, featuring the music of Ryan Cayabyab, with libretto by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and costume design by the late National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal.
The original staging of “Rama Hari” made its premier in 1980 featuring the decade’s most popular singers, Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, and Leo Valdez. It tells the adventures of Rama (Basil Valdez), an Indian prince to rescue his wife Sita (Ledesma), who was abducted by the demon king Ravana (Leo Valdez)
Ballet Philippines will hold auditions for singers on March 22 and 23 at the CCP Rehearsal Hall.
The 2012 staging of “Rama Hari” will once again feature Cayabyab as musical director, with musical accompaniment from the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
“Rama Hari” will run from November 30 to December 9 at the Cultural CCP Tangahalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).