After the success of Rama, Hari, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines presents Carmen and other spirit. 

Running from Oct. 20 to 21 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, the program is top-billed by Carmen, another masterpiece by National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes. 

Springing off from Prosper Merimeé’s 1845 novella of the same title, Reyes takes a unique perspective telling the narrative from the point of view of Don Jose, “His story is a grim account of “low” life, pungent, raw, and a tale of a man who has lost everything, his rank, his livelihood and now his life because of an uncontrollable infatuation with a woman,” Reyes said.

The woman of Jose’s infatuation was none other than our titular Carmen, a Gypsy-Spanish woman whose persona could be defined as a feminist, a term and issue that had been present as early as the 1800s. Reyes describes her version of Carmen as “a woman fully aware of her feminine nature. She is not a prostitute but is an ideal type of the genuinely emancipated woman - free, sovereign, and mistress of all her decisions. She would rather die than live with a man she no longer loves and respects.” In typical Romanticist form, the drama and the passion make for a riveting dance creation.

Shifting from their comedic turn as the evil duo, Ravana and Soorpanakha, in Alice Reyes, Rama, Hari, this year’s staging of Reyes’ Carmen will have Richardson Yadao as the conflicted Don Jose and Macel Dofitas as the fiery Carmen.

Edna Vida who originated the titular role in Reyes’ Carmen commented on the pair, “All through the years I’ve been hoping that Alice herself would restage Carmen, but I kept telling her that the lead must be Macel Dofitas. It’s her that I see as Carmen in talent, presence, physique and Richardson Yadao must be her Don Jose, because he can certainly work the muscle of deep pathos. They are a fantastic pair on stage.”

The “other spirits” are comprised of three choreographic works by the country's top Filipino choreographers:

Alden Lugnasin echoes synchronized swimming movements in his piece, Swimming the Ilog Pasig. It is a provocative social and environmental commentary recalling the relationship between the people and the once rippling clear waters of the River Pasig which have now become a dumping site for trash. Lugnasin’s piece utilizes his unique style of movement and storytelling, as he costumes the dancers in the popular 80s brand of swimwear, Speedo.

Ronelson Yadao, Artistic Director of ARDP essays the importance of interdependency of two individuals in his work "Two."

Lester Reguindin’s now draws inspiration from young environment activist, Greta Thunberg, and her bold speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, where she challenges the powers that be to make a change for the sake of her generation. The piece which was originally choreographed for film transitions to a stage adaptation.

Carmen and other spirits is presented by Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program (PASP), with the generous support of Samsung Performing Arts Theater and Birch Tree Adult Boost. It features dance trainees from Guang Ming College, Philippine High School for the Arts, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, and other independent performers.

Show schedule: Oct. 20, 2023, Friday, 7:30 p.m, Samsung Performing Arts Theater, and Oct. 21, 2023, Saturday, 4:00 p.m, Samsung Performing Arts Theater

Reserve your tickets in advance, +63 977 799 0921, [email protected]. Advance ticket reservations until Oct. 9 only. Tickets go live on Ticketworld on Oct. 10, 2023.