Giselle took center stage at the CCP Main Theater over the weekend as part of the dance.MNL: Philippine International Dance Festival. The performance was a collaborative effort of the Philippines’ three premier dance companies—Philippine Ballet Theatre, Ballet Philippines, and Ballet Manila—to pay tribute to a great dancer, teacher and choreographer, Felicitas L. Radaic.
Taking on the role of Giselle at the gala performance was Joan Sia of Ballet Manila. Others in the cast were Romeo Peralta (Albrecht), Francis Cascaño (Hilarion), Stephanie Cabral (Myrtha), Lisa Macuja Elizalde (Bathilde), Regina Magbitang and Jared Tan (Peasant Pas de Deux), Eileen Lopez (Berthe), Paul Alexander Morales (Duke of Courland), Sean Pelegrin (Page) and David and Daniel Andes (Page Boys).
After the performance, Radaic was called on stage and given a bouquet of flowers. Her former students were also present to pay tribute to their mentor. In her short message, she exhorted the audience to support the performing arts particularly ballet for it to further flourish in the country.
Giselle was one of Radaic’s signature roles, and it is only fitting that such a performance be given to honor Radaic: the artist who is indefatigable onstage and offstage and, in every sense of the word, a ballet revolutionary.
After honing her exceptional talent in dance and choreography in Paris, Madrid and London; and after becoming the first Filipina to become a member of the United Kingdom’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), Radaic returned to the Philippines with the objective of ennobling the art of ballet to generations of Filipino dancers and audience.
In 1968, Radaic spearheaded the creation of the Philippine branch of the RAD. Shortly thereafter, she founded her own dance school, and awarded scholarships to deserving students. She then co-founded, alongside Julia Borromeo and Eddie Elejar, Dance Theater Philippines (DTP), and remained active as a teacher, choreographer and artistic director for over 20 years.
She placed great emphasis on ballet for Filipinos. Her productions with DTP bore a distinctly Filipino flavor, embracing and highlighting aspects of Filipino dance and style. She also sought to break the preconception that ballet was only for the rich, only for the elite, by staging weekly performances by the DTP for many years in Rizal Park, accessible for all to watch.
American modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham once said, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”
If passion is a measure of greatness, Felicitas L. Radaic has gone far beyond measurable territory. She has been at the forefront of Philippine ballet for over half a century. While her exceptional talents as a ballerina and skills as choreographer are widely acknowledged, her contributions off-stage are lesser known, yet no less significant.