Ballet Philippines dancers delve into the 'dance of changing times' with contemporary choreography and dance movements.

Change is inevitable. Day turns into night. Flowers bloom and wither. Season shifts from summer to winter. Even people live through changes — they are born, grow up, and eventually reach the dawn of their lives.

Ballet Philippines (BP) dances through the changing times in Neo-Filipino 2010, the fourth and final offering of the ballet company for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 40th anniversary season.

An offshoot of renowned ballet dancer and choreographer Denisa Reyes’ landmark New York concert, the Neo-Filipino series presents cutting-edge contemporary dance choreographies from leading Filipino choreographers with collaborations from the various art disciplines such as visual arts and films.

It combines the technique and pointe work of classical ballet and the innovative and contemporary movements, including floorwork and turn-in, of the modern dance to create a cutting-edge production.

“Neo-Filipino aims to explore and redefine the Filipino identity through dance while promoting contemporary choreography and dance movement. This year, the series delves into the ‘dance in a time of change.’ With the election just around the corner, everyone ought to be aware of time, of the passing of the moment. They have to be aware of the importance of ‘now,’ yet knowing what have gone before and looking forward to what will happen after,” said BP artistic director Paul Alexander Morales who will oversee the whole dance performance.

Neo-Filipino 2010 will feature eight dance vignettes by talented young choreographers, all of which passionately express the concerns of the changing times and explore the premise of what it is like to be a Filipino today.

Ballerinas/choreographers Carissa Adea and Ea Torrado explore urban and personal concerns in “Rey-Sing” and “Two of You,” respectively. In “You, Me, Us,” the choreographer creates a duet where dancers use strong, forceful body movements to tell a story.

A Wi-Fi Body entry, “To Whom It May Concern” by Novy Bereber expresses the plight and travails of the Filipino dance artist in the time of globalization. “Words and Phrases” by Alden Lugnasin gets inspiration from the paintings of Bienvenido Benitez and was put into video motion by award-winning filmmaker Emerson Reyes, featuring the Ballet Philippines II, an umbrella arm of the ballet company composed of the scholars and apprentices.

UP Dance Company choreographer Elena Laniog shares her expertise as she created “Dust Underneath Unlit Lips” for the BP II. BP alumni Tinnie Crame- Santillan offers a dose of romance and humor in “Blind Date.” Choreographer Dwight Rodrigazo gives tribute to music genius Wim Mertens in “Wim-sical.”

The one-and-a-half-hour ballet production is surely a testament to the beauty and uniqueness     of the Filipino dance and talent.

Neo-Filipino will be staged on March 5, 6, and 7, at the CCP Little Theater.