World-class Filipina ballerina dances for Yolanda kid survivors

Stella Abrera, one of only ten soloists in America’s national ballet company, didn’t know why it took her so long to dance in the Philippines where she made her first memories.

What is certain is she will live the dream when she performs on September 19 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) — before thousands of her kababayan hungry to see a world-class Filipino talent who has performed all over the world for over two decades.

"I’ve been looking forward to this trip for about a year now. Not only do I get to dance this iconic role in a fabulous theater with a beautiful company. But I have also been afforded a wonderful opportunity to reconnect to my heritage, to the culture from which I come and to spend some time with my extended family,” Abrera said on Tuesday (September 9) at the launch of Ballet Philippines' (BP) Blue Moon Series featuring some of its biggest shows in 45 years.

But her homecoming isn’t all about her. In fact, she wants the attention given to somewhere else—in Central Visayas where Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the world's most powerful storm, made a landfall on November 8 last year. It left 6,300 dead and displaced 4 million Filipinos.

A good place to be 

On the night she performs in "Giselle," one of ballet’s greatest and most challenging roles, Abrera will represent thousands of children whose education suffered because of Yolanda.

The September 19 gala aims to raise funds for “Step Forward for the Philippines,” a charity she founded to meet the education and creative needs of Yolanda kids.

With her in the grand show is James Whiteside, her colleague in the American Ballet Theater. Whiteside is trained as a principal dancer, the highest level in ballet.

A source of national pride, Abrera said dancing for the Filipino audience is something she looks forward to as a reward after guest-performing across the US and Europe.

“I feel like I’m at a good place in my career that I can come to the CCP and hopefully give a very good show," she told Yahoo Philippines.

Non-profit organization Operation USA will accompany Abrera when she visits Guiuan, Eastern Samar this weekend to visit the school building it is putting up for the children.

Artists' social responsibility

Aside from Abrera, the restaging of Giselle by Philippines’ premier danseur Nonoy Froilan will see two other Giselles doing the part: principal dancer Katherine Trofeo and soloist Denise Parungao.

Trofeo nailed it when she said Abrera’s presence and inspiring work in and out of the studio signals an exciting time for the Philippine ballet scene.

"We cannot downplay her efforts for Guiuan because as artists we can be sheltered and not do anything to help. But for her to say that life actually happens outside the theater and outside the studio, and that we can be good human beings by just helping.”

Giselle’s run is set on Friday, September 19, 3pm and 8pm; Friday, September 20 at 2pm and 6pm, and Sunday, September 21 at 2pm.

For details, visit www.ballet.ph or call Ballet Philippines at 551-1003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.