The Sylphide is one of the oldest ballets in the world. Premiered in Paris in 1832 – at the Paris Opera, no less – the performance has captivated generations. The story revolves around the misadventures of love, focusing on a young man named James, who – just before his wedding to a woman named Effie – is greeted by a charming spirit of the air, a sylph. The sylph dances for him and captures his imagination, eventually drawing him away from his bride, Effie, with whom James’ cousin Gurn is also secretly in love.
The drama takes place in two acts and, at the time of its premiere in 1832, it was quite a spectacle, as it represented a radical change in the way ballet was performed: it was the first to be performed entirely on pointe.
La Sylphide “is one of the most difficult dances to perform, if not the most difficult,” says Mikhail Martynuk, Artistic Director of the Ballet of the Philippines and a dancer. “Every step of La Sylphide is part of the performance, and after ten minutes, you can imagine that [un bailarín] “You’ll end up exhausted. That’s why we’ve had to put our dancers through a rigorous training program, which includes a lot of cardio.”
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However, the result is as rewarding for the audience as it is for the dancer. In its 55th season, the Philippine Ballet is proud to present a unique interpretation of the dance, “blending the essence of Bournonville’s version with our nation’s vibrant romanticism and deep-rooted belief in the mystical.” Performed by different pairs of dancers each night, La Sylphide will bring local talents to the stage, proudly showcasing the skills of our dark-skinned and brown-haired dancers.
“We don’t know why it took us so long to put it on stage [por primera vez] “Such an iconic dance,” laughs Kathleen “Mai-Mai” Lior Liechtenstein, President and CEO of the Philippine Ballet. “But it’s here now, and we’re thrilled to showcase our talent.”
In its 55th season, the Philippine Ballet is proud to present a unique interpretation of dance
Premiering on 9 August 2024 at the Theatre in Solaire, La Sylphide will offer additional performances on 10 and 11 August 2024.
The Philippine Ballet will continue its magical season in Neverland with a performance of Peter Pan on December 6, 7 and 8, 2024. They will then kick off 2025 with a full-length Filipino ballet, “Ang Panaginip,” as the season finale from February 28 to March 2, 2025.
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