Diyosa by Carlo Calma weaves a contemporary story and a dance piece featuring gods and goddesses
This strange mythical world created by Carlo Calma is a reimagined story of deities through a mix of classic and modern dance styles. This Filipino visual artist and architect delivers a worthy celebration of the future of Philippine performance art as he introduces ballet to the world of architecture, art, design, electronic music, and fashion in one show titled Diyosa.
RELATED: Ballet Philippines Returns To The Stage
The ballet fever in the Philippines began in 1970 when the visionary founder of Ballet Philippines, Alice Reyes, staged a modern dance concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Since then, the company grew as it introduced modern dance to the Philippines and to a worldwide audience.
Despite the unfortunate closing of the CCP stage with the Nutcracker Gala as the last show, Ballet Philippines rose again to continue its legacy. The performing arts industry and the entire Filipino community is ecstatic as Ballet Philippines President Kathleen Liechtenstein reveals, “We are delighted to announce that our next production will be performed at The Theatre at Solaire.” This partnership will bring us to a dreamy world of Diyosa, integrating Filipino culture, history, myth, and humor.
The creator’s artistry
While the story is quite creative, it sparks a straightforward issue in the Philippines, which is sustainability. As its creator aims to retain its relevance through the ages, Diyosa follows a sensory journey towards humankind’s awakening about climate change and the global environmental crisis. And with Carlo Calma being known for exploring the relationship between bodies, nature, and environment, the very prominent elements of Diyosa include new and never-before-seen methods for bringing characters and storylines to life. The five-act production will follow stages of a dream where gods and goddesses transform into both human and abstract forms.
In the adaptation, renowned gods and goddesses of Philippine mythology will be brought to life. Meanwhile, audiences can also expect distinct elements of local life, including sunrise in the countryside, crowded alleys, jeepneys, and more.
The choreographer’s vision
Ultimately, the sequences of the show will be given life through choreography. Serving us an original and captivating dance piece is Artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk. His choreography brings elements of Philippine culture, showcasing the battle cries about local and global climate issues. He even shared that creating a dance routine for Diyosa is a “fine practice in precision.”
“The concept of gods and goddesses in this piece is very abstract. Our aim was to create a modern experience of the deities through a combination of classic, neo-classic, and modern dance styles,” he further explains the concept. Moreover, Martynyuk also affirms that this ballet piece is the first of its kind in the Philippine performing arts as he described it as “the perfect marriage of dance, music, storyboard, light projections, and art.”
Invitation to the mythical world of ballet
Among the personalities who attended the soirée for Carlo Calma’s show were Aga Muhlach with his daughter Atasha, Cristine Reyes with her daughter Amara, KC Del Rosario, and Tim Yap.
After the festivities dedicated to the Ballet Philippines and Carlo Calma, the much-anticipated show titled Diyosa is inviting guests from near to far to The Theatre at Solaire. With that, Ballet Philippines is looking forward to welcoming new and regular audiences to see Carlo Calma’s masterpiece on stage.
Carlo Calma’s Dioysa will run from April 14 to 17 at The Theatre at Solaire. For more information, visit their website and follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
