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BP Bulletin

BP’s Ballet Brigade and Bukidnon’s Seven Tribes Meet for a Cultural Exchange

Ballet Philippines’ Ballet Brigade recently embarked on a meaningful journey to the highlands of Bukidnon, deepening its commitment to connecting communities through dance. Engaging with the seven tribes of the region—the Talaandig, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Umayamnon, Matigsalog, Pulangiyen Manobo, and Tigwahanon—the company fostered a powerful exchange of culture, tradition, and artistry.

Ballet Philippines, led by President Kathleen Liechtenstein and Trustee Sheree Chua, were welcomed with great reverence by the Talaandig elders of Songco in Lantapan. A sacred Pamuhat ritual at the Peace Hall in Mayantudug set the tone for the visit, invoking spiritual blessings for the occasion.

A captivating exchange of dances followed, as Talaandig elders performed their traditional movements, their feet resonating with the earth’s rhythm. In return, Ballet Philippines’ dancers shared their own craft, bridging two distinct yet equally expressive art forms. The ballerinas had the honor of learning the Dugso, a ceremonial Talaandig dance, while Bai Ipang, a revered elder, experienced ballet’s elegant allongé. This exchange underscored a shared respect for dance as both storytelling and cultural preservation.

“An unforgettable moment—so moving, we performed three encores,” BP President Kathleen Liechtenstein recounted.
This is Datu Waway Saway, the tribe leader who traces his ancestors to the Great Flood survivors. He is very charismatic and greatly talented in visual arts and music. He performed his song at the Lincoln Center for the Julliard School of Music.
He will perform live chant for the Mindanao full-length ballet .
Mindanao will be an original full length ballet about the many tribes of Mindanao and how unity and harmony turned it into a paradise! Watch out for it Sept 2027.

On the second day, the company visited Lantapan National High School, where nearly 100 students were introduced to ballet through an immersive workshop. The session culminated in a vibrant showcase, met with enthusiastic applause from the school community.

The Ballet Brigade’s journey extended to Kitaotao, Quezon, and Malaybalay, where performances near significant monuments by Lawig Diwa President Kublai Millan transformed public spaces into artistic stages. These performances brought audiences together in a shared celebration of movement and heritage.
This extraordinary collaboration—made possible through the efforts of Lawig Diwa Inc. and the Talaandig community—demonstrates the power of dance in preserving tradition and building bridges between cultures. Through these exchanges, Ballet Philippines continues its mission of inspiring and uniting communities, proving that the language of movement knows no borders.

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BP Bulletin

Dancing with Purpose: Ballet Philippines’ Journey to Mindanao

Ballet Philippines, one of Asia’s foremost dance companies, continues its intense and focused outreach program, this time by participating in the Mindanao Art Fair. As they move to the southern tip of the Philippines, the company embarks on an inspiring journey of collaboration, cultural exchange, and exploration.

Ballet Philippines’ Dancers with Artisitc Director, Mikhail Martynyuk, arriving early this morning, September 27, 2024 at the Davao Airport.

Exploring Mindanao’s Dance Movements

As part of their participation, the company is diving into Mindanao’s unique dance traditions, enriching their artistic vocabulary. By connecting with local dancers and learning from indigenous practices, Ballet Philippines strengthens their ties to Filipino culture while expanding the reach of ballet.

Ballet Philippines’ Dancers at the gallery in SM Lanang, Davao.

Meeting the Tagabawa Community in Digos

One of the most meaningful parts of their trip is meeting the Tagabawa community. Ballet Philippines recognizes the deep roots of dance in this community’s traditions and its role in reflecting social issues. Learning directly from the Tagabawa people, the company gains insight into how dance can carry messages of both resilience and transformation.

A Visit to Lake Sebu

Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director, Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk, along with dancers Anthony Balucay and Eduardson Evangelio, recently participated in a meaningful cultural immersion in Lake Sebu. They explored the rich heritage of the T’boli people by visiting significant sites, including the Lang Dulay Weaving Center, Bundos Fara’s T’boli Brass Casting shop, and The Lake Sebu School of Living Traditions. Through this experience, they gained a deeper understanding of T’boli culture, witnessing firsthand the beauty of T’boli music, dance, intricate textile weaving, and brass casting.

Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director, Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk along with BP dancers embarked on a meaningful cultural immersion in Lake Sebu.
Through this journey, Misha and the dancers experienced the vibrant T’boli culture firsthand—its music, dance, intricate textile weaving, and brass casting—gaining a deeper appreciation and understanding of our T’boli brothers and sisters’ way of life.

Honoring the Legacy of the Rano Massacre Survivors

In a deeply emotional exchange, the company is also listening to the stories of survivors of the 1989 Rano Massacre, reflecting on how the arts can memorialize and heal. This marks a significant moment where Ballet Philippines uses dance not just as art, but as a medium for empathy and discourse.

Empowering the Next Generation

BP’s visit concludes with a workshop at Davao City National High School, inspiring Mindanao’s youth to stay grounded in their cultural heritage while pursuing their creative passions. By nurturing these young talents, Ballet Philippines fosters a new wave of creatives who will carry their community’s stories forward.

Ballet Philippines’ participation in Mindanao Art symbolizes more than just a performance—it’s a powerful act of cultural connection and storytelling. The company’s dedication to embracing local traditions, while pushing artistic boundaries, makes them a force for uniting the nation through dance. These outreach programs are where the heart of Ballet Philippines truly beats!

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BP Bulletin

Ballet Philippines’ Ballet Outreach Brings Dance to Tacloban

From September 13-15, 2024, Ballet Philippines (BP) brought the joy of ballet to the resilient city of Tacloban, Leyte. Despite overcast weather in both Manila and Tacloban, the BP team departed Manila in high spirits, eager to share the beauty of ballet with the people of Tacloban, a city that gained international attention in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. Now fully recovered, Tacloban welcomed the Ballet Philippines dancers and team with open arms.

Upon arrival, BP dancers and staff visited Mr. Glenn Capucion, President of the Tingog Partylist, who expressed his gratitude for the company’s visit and their efforts to bring ballet to the region.

BP then performed at North Hill, where schoolchildren eagerly awaited their first glimpse of ballet. The dancers performed an excerpt from their most recent production, La Sylphide, followed by a ballet class that was
met with enthusiasm from the children. After the class, BP assisted in distributing backpacks filled with school supplies, bringing smiles to many young faces.

The day concluded with visits to Tacloban’s iconic sites, including the San Juanico Bridge and the Haiyan Memorial, where the team reflected on the city’s resilience and recovery.

The following day, BP held a ballet masterclass at the People’s Center for local ballet students. Students from all levels of dance, from Baby Ballet to Adult Ballet, enjoyed a truly uplifting ballet masterclass with our enthusiastic dancers.

Later in the afternoon, BP visited the Community of Hope in Palanog, where the children enjoyed another dance performance and class.

Afterward, BP dancers received a plaque of appreciation from local officials, recognizing their contributions to the community.

The heartfelt response from the Tacloban community was best captured by a representative from the office of Mr. Capucion, Ms. Rowena Young who remarked: “You didn’t just perform; you shared a piece of your heart with us. The passion and energy you brought were palpable, and the joy you inspired will stay with our community for a lifetime.

BP dancers and staff left Tacloban with full hearts, knowing they had touched lives through the art of ballet.

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BP Bulletin

A BP MASTERCLASS on Creators, Copyrights, and Intellectual Property

As we now enter a new era of hybrid training and learning, BALLET PHILIPPINES is once again engaging the creative community with an exciting Masterclass designed to shed light on Philippine Copyrights and Intellectual Property.

We at BALLET PHILIPPINES invite you and your organization to join a BP OnStream MASTERCLASS: Creators, Copyrights, and IP with Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan and Atty. Rico Domingo.

The Masterclass will take place via Zoom on August 2, 3PM. It may also be viewed through BALLET PHILIPPINES’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/balletphilippines

During this MASTERCLASS, audiences will:

  • Learn about Philippine Laws on Copyrights and IP–its parameters, definitions, and scope.
  • Discover how Copyrights and IP can help protect and guide creatives as they navigate their careers.
  • Know and understand the dynamics between creators, companies, and other businesses where Copyrights are concerned

We shall be delighted to welcome you to this special session where experts of the legal community and IP can help guide you through your creative pursuits and careers.

Register for this FREE Masterclass, here:

 

 

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BP Bulletin

Ballet Philippines Bags a Pinoy Pride Award at MEGA’s Independence Day Ball

 

Read the whole article here.

Watch out for full details plus the electrifying performance of our BP Core Dancers together with our Guest Artists at this annual ball in our Dance Scenes section on OnStream!