THE FILIPINO

BALLET MUSICAL
MUSIC 10
BALLET

• Is a form of theatrical entertainment in which in which dancers express mood, thoughts, and
feelings through their body movement that tell a story. Traditional ballet is a combination of
dance, music, and theater that produces a highly aesthetic entertainment form.
• Ballet dancers have extensive formal training to learn elaborate techniques, which take years to
perfect. Hand, feet, body, and facial movements and expression are important as these relay the
messages to the audience.
• One technique is the en pointe, a French term for “on the tip”, which requires a dancer to
“stand” on the tip of their toes, wearing reinforced pointed shoes. This create floating feel and
movement, making ballet dancers move seamlessly on the stage.
RAMA HARI

• Is a Filipino pop-musical based on the Indian epic Ramayana, with music composed by
Ryan Cayabyab, dance and choreography by Alice Reyes, and libretto by National Artist
for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera.
• This is a unique form of ballet wherein each role in the story has a ballet dancer and an
actor or singer who performs simultaneously.
• Its overall effect is a rich blend literally of music, dance, and theater. The libretto or text
completes Rama Hari into a production that has been appreciated by audiences across
generations.
LOLA BASYANG

• Is a pen name Severino Reyes, a highly respected playwright of sarsuwelas. This character has become
synonymous with a motherly character who tells stories to the young. He was the editor of the Filipino
magazine Liwayway, which features folk and popular literature.
• A section in the said magazine, titled “Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang”, of which, Reyes wrote the
stories.
• In 2015, Ballet Manila produced the ballet production Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang based on the
stories created by Severino Reyes. The balle comprised three stories:
1) Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon
2) Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria
3) Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin
Performance of Ballet Dancers

Severino “Lola Basyang” Reyes