The Philippines is home to some of the most talented artists in the world. This thread is dedicated to the discipline that brought numerous honors to our country.
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Silver swan. Filipina ballerina Christine Joy Rocas, dancing as the Black Swan in Swan Lake, recently won the silver medal at the 8th New York International ballet competition, the equivalent of the Olympics in the ballet world.
Filipina bags top ballet honors in New York
A Filipino ballerina bagged top honors at the 8th New York International Ballet Competition (NYIBC) held recently at Alice Tully Hall of the Lincoln Center.
Christine Rocas, 18, who received her formal ballet training from Ballet Manila since she was 10, won the silver medal in the women’s division beating 26 couples from 19 countries.
The gold medal in the women’s division was not awarded during this year’s NYIBC while the bronze medal went to Hanae Seki of Japan.
In the men’s division, Joseph Gatti of the USA danced his way to the gold medal while Daniel Sarabia of Cuba won the silver medal.
Altankhuyag Dugaraa of Mongolia bagged the bronze medal.
Christine’s partner in all three rounds was fellow-Filipino and Ballet Manila company member Francis Cascaño.
The NYIBC, held every three years, is one of the world’s premier dancing competitions geared towards identifying promising young dancers, enhancing their professional education, and providing them with career opportunities.
Christine also bagged the Arpino Award, a one-year contract with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. As of press time, Rocas is yet undecided whether she will accept the offer.
"This is an example of how a student surpasses a teacher. It is a significant achievement that is unprecedented in Philippine ballet history," said Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, artistic director of Ballet Manila.
Christine, Ballet Manila’s demi-soloist, is the second Filipino to be awarded a medal abroad.
Her mentor, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, bagged the country’s first silver medal in the Asia-Pacific International Competition in 1987.
"This shows that the Philippines can produce great talent even though ballet is a Western art form. We hope this victory will provide the impetus for government, the business sector, and the public to support ballet. Our artists need patrons who share the vision of bringing the Philippines international recognition," Lisa stressed.
The NYIBC distinguishes itself from other competitions because of its unique and grueling format.
According to Osias Barroso, Ballet Manila associate director and ballet master, the repertory is announced only upon the arrival of the dancers.
During the first two weeks, all dancers are taught three pas de deux by world-renowned instructors and coaches.
Only the dancers with the highest scores advance after each round.
President of the Jury for NYIBC 2005 was Victoria Morgan of the USA, artistic director of the Cincinnati Ballet.
The other judges were Stanton Welch of Australia, artistic director, Houston Ballet; Andre Lewis of Canada, artistic director, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Xin Li Li of China, artistic director, Shanghai Ballet; Dame Merle Park of England, former artistic director of the Royal Ballet School; Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen, Alexei Ratmansky of Russia, artistic director, The Bolshoi Ballet; Victor Ullate of Spain artistic, Victor Ullate Ballet; and Maria Eugenia Barrios of Venezuela, artistic director, Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas.
In preparation for the competition, Christine joined a contest in Helsinki, where she made it to the semifinals.
In August of 2003, Christine received a finalists’ certificate in the Junior Division at the 9th Asia-Pacific International Competition in Tokyo, Japan.
She also took on various roles during daily shows at the Star Theater and Aliw Theater.
Upon her return, Christine will perform the lead role in the full-length staging of "Swan Lake," Ballet Manila’s 10th season opening, at the Aliw Theater this August.
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Silver swan. Filipina ballerina Christine Joy Rocas, dancing as the Black Swan in Swan Lake, recently won the silver medal at the 8th New York International ballet competition, the equivalent of the Olympics in the ballet world.
Filipina bags top ballet honors in New York
A Filipino ballerina bagged top honors at the 8th New York International Ballet Competition (NYIBC) held recently at Alice Tully Hall of the Lincoln Center.
Christine Rocas, 18, who received her formal ballet training from Ballet Manila since she was 10, won the silver medal in the women’s division beating 26 couples from 19 countries.
The gold medal in the women’s division was not awarded during this year’s NYIBC while the bronze medal went to Hanae Seki of Japan.
In the men’s division, Joseph Gatti of the USA danced his way to the gold medal while Daniel Sarabia of Cuba won the silver medal.
Altankhuyag Dugaraa of Mongolia bagged the bronze medal.
Christine’s partner in all three rounds was fellow-Filipino and Ballet Manila company member Francis Cascaño.
The NYIBC, held every three years, is one of the world’s premier dancing competitions geared towards identifying promising young dancers, enhancing their professional education, and providing them with career opportunities.
Christine also bagged the Arpino Award, a one-year contract with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. As of press time, Rocas is yet undecided whether she will accept the offer.
"This is an example of how a student surpasses a teacher. It is a significant achievement that is unprecedented in Philippine ballet history," said Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, artistic director of Ballet Manila.
Christine, Ballet Manila’s demi-soloist, is the second Filipino to be awarded a medal abroad.
Her mentor, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, bagged the country’s first silver medal in the Asia-Pacific International Competition in 1987.
"This shows that the Philippines can produce great talent even though ballet is a Western art form. We hope this victory will provide the impetus for government, the business sector, and the public to support ballet. Our artists need patrons who share the vision of bringing the Philippines international recognition," Lisa stressed.
The NYIBC distinguishes itself from other competitions because of its unique and grueling format.
According to Osias Barroso, Ballet Manila associate director and ballet master, the repertory is announced only upon the arrival of the dancers.
During the first two weeks, all dancers are taught three pas de deux by world-renowned instructors and coaches.
Only the dancers with the highest scores advance after each round.
President of the Jury for NYIBC 2005 was Victoria Morgan of the USA, artistic director of the Cincinnati Ballet.
The other judges were Stanton Welch of Australia, artistic director, Houston Ballet; Andre Lewis of Canada, artistic director, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Xin Li Li of China, artistic director, Shanghai Ballet; Dame Merle Park of England, former artistic director of the Royal Ballet School; Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen, Alexei Ratmansky of Russia, artistic director, The Bolshoi Ballet; Victor Ullate of Spain artistic, Victor Ullate Ballet; and Maria Eugenia Barrios of Venezuela, artistic director, Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas.
In preparation for the competition, Christine joined a contest in Helsinki, where she made it to the semifinals.
In August of 2003, Christine received a finalists’ certificate in the Junior Division at the 9th Asia-Pacific International Competition in Tokyo, Japan.
She also took on various roles during daily shows at the Star Theater and Aliw Theater.
Upon her return, Christine will perform the lead role in the full-length staging of "Swan Lake," Ballet Manila’s 10th season opening, at the Aliw Theater this August.