Reyes and Cayabyab’s ‘Puso ng Pasko’ ballet returns
“Puso ng Pasko,” the first full-length, all-Filipino Christmas ballet by Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP), returns for performances at the Metropolitan Theater on Dec. 1 (7:30 p.m.) and Dec. 2 (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.).
“Puso ng Pasko” is another epic collaboration between “Rama, Hari” creryators and National Artists Alice Reyes (for Dance) and Ryan Cayabyab (for Music). It features Cayabyab’s musical arrangements of timeless Filipino Christmas carols and choreography by a talented group of rising Filipino choreographers under the mentorship of Reyes.
Directed and choreographed by ARDP artistic director Ronelson Yadao, teaming up with cochoreographers Erl Sorilla, Lester Reguindin, AL Abraham, John Ababon, Danilo Dayo and Bonnie Guerrero, they create unique and dynamic movements of contemporary dance fused with influences from traditional Filipino festivals. Along with librettist Eljay Castro Deldoc, who worked with Yadao on the script and story with input from film director Carlos Siguion-Reyna, who directed the filmed sequences, together with Ricardo Eric Cruz for production design and Barbara Tan-Tiongco for lighting design, they made this new Filipino Christmas ballet classic come to life.
Christmases of youth
“Puso ng Pasko” tells the story of Lolo Val, now living abroad in New Jersey, as he recalls to his young granddaughter Angelita the magical Christmases of his youth in Tres Reyes with his barkada. It features beloved scenes of the Simbang Gabi, eating bibingka and puto bumbong, plazas decorated with big parol, and beautiful Christmas decorations. It also pays homage to the different fiestas across the Philippine islands, including the Belenisimo of Tarlac, the Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, the Higantes Festival of Rizal, Sayaw sa Bangko of Pangasinan and the Pandang Gitab of Oriental Mindoro, as well as homages to traditions such as the Rigodon de Honor.
Having premiered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2022, “Puso ng Pasko” opened to rave reviews with audiences citing it as “the quintessential Filipino Christmas ballet” and “the Filipino Nutcracker to be restaged and reinterpreted every year.”
Following performances at the Metropolitan Theater, “Puso ng Pasko” goes on a major Luzon Tour in December. In collaboration with Local Government officials, the production is scheduled to have performances in Angeles City, Pampanga (Dec. 7); Tarlac City, Tarlac (Dec. 13); Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija (Dec. 15); and Iligan City, Isabela (Dec. 18), followed by performances for the City of Makati and at the Malacañang Palace. “Puso ng Pasko” features dance trainees from the School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Philippine High School for the Arts, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and other independent performers.
For ticket reservations, call tel. 0977-7990921 or ardancephilippinesinc@gmail.com. Advance ticket reservations run until Nov. 30 only.
