Ballet Philippines La Revolucion Filipina Preview

Photo Courtesy of Victor Ursabia

How will paraplegic Apolinario Mabini dance? This intriguing and seemingly impossible notion is given life by none other than brilliant choreographer Agnes Locsin, who stunningly lets national hero Apolinario Mabini’s fluency of mind be interpreted in a dance theater piece that requires the dancers not only to move, but to act and speak lines as well.

The potency of this material is such that even though La Revolucion Filipina is a restaging of its 1996 world premiere, it remains riveting.

Agnes Locsin’s choreography defies conventional lines that a dancer will be challenged to change his learned perceptions and fight his own classical ballet training. Another challenge for the corps of dancers is Ryan Cayabyab’s music, specifically composed for La Revolucion Filipina, yet is difficult to dance to, for it runs the gamut of passionate notes to hardly discernible beats before disappearing into silence, when the dancer’s own heartbeat becomes the dance’s rhythm.

Of particular pride for Agnes Locsin is to see her “babies” namely Camille Ordinario, Georgette Sanchez and Christrine Crame “[aid] the new dancers in the learning of the steps. I enjoyed watching my ‘babies’ teach the next generation. They paved the way to my being able to re-choreograph the sections I felt were wanting in the original production.”

Photo Courtesy of Victor Ursabia

Agnes Locsin’s interpretation of historical facts concerning Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini is clearly opinionated, and might be offensive to those who are staunch supporters of the Caviteno, for as the dance theater piece progresses, the one who is supposedly without the use of his legs and physically challenged becomes the psychological and intellectual base and root of his contemporaries, before transcending into a tragic supremacy over the recognized leadership of Aguinaldo.

To guide Ballet Philippines in the acting process is former La Revolucion Filipina actor-dancer Nonie “Emilio Aguinaldo” Buencamino, for whom Agnes Locsin originally choreographed the role. Also on hand for the rehearsal-preview on 17 September 2008 were Librettist Dennis Marasigan (who kindly shared La Revolucion Filipina tidbits with my sister and I), Costume Designer Victor Ursabia (who was also taking pictures and generously shared the addresses of his photo blogs), Set Designer Mio Infante (who we thank for inviting us and whose La Revolucion set remains one of my favorite sets ever), Light Designer Virgilio “Katsch” Catoy (who stayed beside Agnes Locsin and kept the staff informed of her wishes and whereabouts) and, of course, Choreographer Agnes Locsin (who kindly told us to move several rows away from her because we might get distracted by her cursing when something goes wrong).

La Revolucion Filipina is given the honor of opening the 39th season of Ballet Philippines and will be staged only this weekend. For tickets for the 19-21 September 2008 shows, please call Ticketworld at 891.9999

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