Pacañas shared that his greatest fear is that once Davaoeños become good dancers, they will not stay. “They will go (abroad) and look for a job to further their career. Just like other people who have no job here,” he said.
By KENETTE JEAN I. MILLONDAGA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Cebu-born premier danseur (male ballet dancer) Nicolas Pacañas will perform his farewell act in Davao City on November 17, 2012 at the College Assurance Plan (Cap) auditorium. He will play his favorite role as Romeo based on Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. After this performance, he will be passing on his knowledge to Davaoeños.
Pacañas, started studying dance when he was still 13 years old. After he graduated from high school, he chose to pursue his passion for dancing and went to school in San Francisco as a dance scholar. After completing ballet school, he was accepted into Boston Ballet and stayed there for five years. In 1982, he joined the Atlanta Ballet School and established himself as the principal dancer and later the co-artistic director.
After 40 years, he is back in the country to help hone the talents of young generation.
“He is now home to pay tribute and perform his farewell act,” said Gerlie Royeca, founder of Davao’s Royeca School of Ballet.
On local talents
“Romeo and Juliet” will cast local talents from the Royeca School of Ballet together with the Ateneo School of Ballet.
However, Pacañas said that the kids will not be made to do the tragic part. “I am very well aware of their level and the magic of their ballet. When it comes to the tragic scenes are all performed by grown up dancers,” Pacañas said.
Asked about the local talents, he said that Filipinos are small but when given a right piece, Filipinos would excel.
Pacañas admitted dancing is a time-limited talent. “That’s what I am here for. I want to step down and develop other talents,” he said.
Pacañas shared that his greatest fear is that once Davaoeños become good dancers, they will not stay. “They will go (abroad) and look for a job to further their career. Just like other people who have no job here,” he said.
In order to prevent this, Pacañas said that we should continue to support local talents that can do good parts and who can perform well. Gerlie Royeca added that we don’t have the benefactors that we badly need. “Even the government should help.
“I want to be a good dancer because I want to get paid; that’s our livelihood,” Pacañas admitted. “We have to feed ourselves. We have to live. We have to survive,” he added.
We are the poorest of the poor among artists
“We are the poorest of the poor among artists, that’s the reality,” said Royeca.
Asked about the support coming from the government, Royeca said that the process takes a long time. She said she feared that the play would have finished its run before it can be approved.
Pacañas said that limited support and funding from private sectors forces ballet groups to be limited to traditional, classical ballet pieces that sponsors and benefactors prefer.
“Staging a ballet piece using local materials is so beautiful. It is just a matter of who is going to support us in order to make that kind of ballet piece. There should be no reason not to stage these,” he added.
Romeo and Juliet will be staged this November 17 at the Cap auditorium. The matinee starts at 10 AM with a gala at 7 PM. Tickets are available at the Royeca School of Ballet at Jacinto Extension (behind Central Bank of the Philippines). Matinee tickets are at PHP 100 and PHP 300 for gala. Proceeds will go to their scholarships program. Wards of SOS Children’s Village and Tambayan Center will watch for free care of play sponsors. (Kenette Jean I. Millondaga/ davaotoday.com)
