2020 has been a difficult year for businesses, but it has been much more difficult for institutions and groups in the performing arts scene. With the closing of theaters and the cancellation or postponement of live performances, the global pandemic has truly changed the way people consume entertainment. Yet despite the challenges, many performing arts groups, including Ballet Philippines, have remained resilient and found new, creative ways to bring the stage to our homes.

Read more: The State of the Filipino Art Scene During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Through its revamped website, called BP OnStream, the previous season of the Philippine Ballet was not lacking in achievements. He was able to offer 52 masterclasses of legendary superstars from the world of ballet with more than 1,600 virtual participants. During this time, a total of 365 in-company courses were held with nearly 7,000 participants. From this, 31 original video productions were made, as well as K12 Kalusugan exercise breaks for students and teachers. Thanks to educational and entertaining material from Batang BP, the prestigious ballet company was able to reach the youngest audience.

“Having adapted and integrated BP well to survive the blockages, stage closure and live performance ban makes me proud of the dancers and executive staff who have shown talent and courage. so impressive, ”said Ballet Philippines President Kathleen Liechtenstein.

At the culmination of the company’s 51st performing season, two productions were premiered via Ballet Philippines’ Facebook page. The first was Dystopian body, created and choreographed by Joshua Serafin. It was a performance “concerning a place where the body evolves in spite of an environment where the conditions do not meet the most basic needs of its citizens”. A little after, Diyosa (Goddess) was also premiered, an uplifting performance inspired by the Philippine pantheon.

“This harmonious relationship (between gods, goddesses and humans) is destroyed because of the greed and selfishness of humans, and with it the light that once shone on the world has been lost,” said the production notes. It featured the goddess of deeper realization, Luwada, the heroine of the story and the original creation of writers Maritess Fojas de Ocampo and Juan Jesus Davide Fojas de Ocampo. Diyosa was choreographed by the artistic director of Ballet Philippines, Mikhail Martynyuk.