‘Coppelia’ Is Set to Open Ballet Philippines’ 54th Season
Last June 26, 2023, members of the press gathered at the Oasis Garden Cafe for a private preview of Ballet Philippines’ Coppelia over a delectable brunch and joined by Ballet Philippines’ President Kathleen Liechtenstein and Trustees Bernie Aboitiz and Rosalind Wee. The cafe’s daylight roof and beautifully landscaped indoor garden was a lovely venue to showcase an excerpt of Ballet Philippines’ season opener show—Coppelia. Harvest season from Act 1 set the tone for brunch that lasted till the early afternoon.
This August, Ballet Philippines will launch its 54th season with a full-length ballet performance of Coppelia. This comic ballet is based on the short story by E.T.A. Hoffman which was originally staged in 1870 at the Théâtre Impérial de l’Opéra in Paris by choreographer Arthur Saint-Léon.
Coppelia tells the tale of young lovers on a quest to end the evil ways of a mad scientist and his mysterious “daughter”. Love conquers all in this enduring narrative that reminds us to look beyond surface beauty and embrace our perfect imperfections. Through the power of dance, Ballet Philippines invites audiences on a journey of self-discovery with Coppelia. This season’s restaging inspires introspection into relevant themes like mental health and self-love, while delivering a lighthearted performance.
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Coppelia on Stage: A Synopsis
Originally written by Charles-Louis Etienne Nuttier, Coppelia follows Dr. Coppélius, an inventor who creates a beautiful life-sized, mechanical doll named Coppelia. We are also introduced to a pair of young lovers, Swanhilda and Franz, who plan to marry at a celebratory harvest festival in their village.
The plot thickens when Franz lays his eyes on Coppelia whom he believes to be human. This stirs discord between the couple, and compels Swanhilda to sneak into the house to find out more about this mysteriously beautiful girl. She discovers that Coppelia is, in fact, a mechanical doll.
In an effort to win back Frantz’s heart, Swanhilda decides to impersonate Coppelia by dressing up as a doll. Meanwhile, Dr. Coppélius lures Frantz into his home for an evil spell. He intends to bring Coppelia to life by transferring Frantz’s soul into her body. Adventure and chaos ensues as Swanhilda uses her folly to save her true love from an untimely demise.
Coppelia: A Ballet Close To Misha’s Heart
Coppelia holds a special place in the heart of Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk, who began his career dancing in a production of the ballet. “Coppelia is all about festivity and brightness. It symbolizes the celebration of a new season,” he shared. “It was also my very first performance as a dancer. I performed the lead role. I am very well-versed with the music, the libretto, and the technique. After my premiere, I got 24 invitations to dance Coppelia in Spain. With that, I think I brought all my learnings from my teachers, and I want to share it with my dancers [in the Philippines].”
Martynuk’s interpretation of Coppelia draws inspiration from the 1884 St. Petersburg production staged by iconic choreographer Marius Petipa. However, he has choreographed the ballet with the intention of showcasing the strength and power of the company’s dancers. “Ballet will always be developed,” he said. “I adapted my version from the original and added several Filipino elements. It is developed with more technique, more style, and [more] characters.” He hopes that this light-hearted performance will inspire audiences to celebrate life for what it is–beautiful, mad, joyful, lonely, and all around filled with lessons.
The Power of Dance Showcases Technique
This production of Coppelia will also kick off this season’s theme of The Power of Dance. Coppelia promises to showcase the company’s incredible technique and the power that it yields in bringing tales as old as time to modern audiences. Martynyuk explains, “It’s all about dance force—which explains the technique, style and character which shows the artistic side of a person.”
During the press preview, Ballet Philippines’ President Kathleen Liechtenstein explains that the choice to open the 54th Season with Coppelia will showcase the company’s unrivaled technical prowess in the classical style of dancing. “We are returning to a beloved classic with Coppelia” she said. “As we dedicate the season to unveiling the Power of Dance, this performance will be an uplifting and inspiring experience that families can share at the theater.”
Ballet Philippines’ Coppelia will run from August 4 to 6 at the Theatre at Solaire. For tickets, log on to www.ballet.ph or www.ticketworld.com.ph. You may also follow Ballet Philippines on Instagram (@balletphilippines), Facebook (@balletphilippines) and Tiktok (@balletph) for updates.
Photos from Ballet Philippines
