The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) will mount La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) on July 15 at 3 and 8 p.m. and July 16 at 3 p.m.
La Bayadère tells the story of Indian dancer Nikiya and warrior Solor, who have sworn eternal fidelity to each other. Things take a tragic turn when Nikiya is killed by a poisonous snake during the betrothal of Solor to the Rajah’s daughter Gamzatti.
La Bayadère was first staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. The ballet was mounted for the benefit performance of prima ballerina Ekaterina Vazem, who created the role of Nikiya.
La Bayadère was first presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 4, 1877. A scene from the ballet, “The Kingdom of the Shades”, is one of the most celebrated excerpts in all of classical ballet.
Performing the male lead role are Jared Tan of the Atlanta Ballet Company, who was flown in by the PBT for this show, and Mathew Davo, who is performing with lead dancers Magbitang and Lobreza Pimentel. Tan dances with lead dancers Irene Kim Abrojena and Veronica Atienza.
For inquiries, call the Philippine Ballet Theatre office at (632) 632-8848 or send an email to secretariat@pbt.ph.