Ballet Manila Performs “Ibong Adarna” at Karmiel Dance Festival in Israel
TEL AVIV 02 August 2018 — Ballet Manila, one of the leading ballet groups in Asia, performed the classic Filipino folk tale “Ibong Adarna” during the opening night of the 31st Karmiel Dance Festival in Israel on 24 July 2018, before an audience of about 500 Israelis and foreign guests.
In spectacular costumes and sweeping dance moves, the 35-member dance group entertained the audience in depicting the story “Ibong Adarna.” The story centers on a quest to capture the mythical bird that possesses magical healing powers. However, those who wish to catch the Adarna bird must prove themselves worthy and of pure heart, otherwise fall into its bitter spell.
The three-day Karmiel Dance Festival includes dance performances, workshops, and open dance sessions attended by delegations from Israel and other international group.
The festival began in 1987 as a celebration of Israeli folk dance, and now features many different dance troupes, attracting thousands of dancers and hundreds of thousands of spectators from Israel and overseas.
Ballet Manila was established in 1995 led by “Prima Ballerina” Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. Training and education are the foremost priorities of the group to “bring ballet to the people and people to the ballet.” END
For more information, visit www.telavivpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippine-embassy.org.il or https://www.facebook.com/PHinIsrael/
Scenes from Ballet Manila’s “Ibong Adarna” during its performance at the Opening of the 31st Karmiel Dance Festival. (Tel Aviv PE photo)
Ambassador to Israel Neal G. Imperial (second row; fifth from left), together with Vice Consul Judy B. Razon and Consul General Randy Arquiza (second row; third & fourth from left), poses with Ballet Manila members after their performance. (Tel Aviv PE photo)