Stella steps forward
Fil-Am international ballet soloist Stella Abrera returns home for Giselle and Yolanda.
Filipino-American international ballet soloist Stella Abrera is on a double mission: To perform in Ballet Philippines’ (BP) production of Giselle on Sept. 19 and to help the victims of Yolanda.
In between her rehearsals and short and tight schedule, Stella squeezes in her humanitarian advocacy. “I actually just spent the last two days visiting the construction site and the children in Guiuan, as well as touring Tacloban. It was an extremely moving experience. The school is still under construction so there’s still time for people to donate.” She founded the Steps Forward for the Philippines (SFP) organization in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, and just recently SFP has raised a bit over 50 percent of its $30,000 goal to raise funds to supply schools with materials like textbooks, blackboards, and notebooks. Donating her autographed pointed shoes and dancing photos, Stella reaches out to her ballet fans in order to raise awareness about the needs of the children in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. This gold medal awardee of the 2005 Royal Academy of Dance’s Adeline Genée in London and American Ballet Theater (ABT) soloist proves that there’s more to ballet than just grace and a pretty face. With hope, she dances her way to a better Philippines. MB Lifestyle gets to know the prima ballerina.
You left the Philippines when you were four years old. What do you miss most about home?
I used to spend summers visiting relatives until I was a young teenager, and then I visited again over a decade ago. I miss the food, specifically the fruits unique to the Philippines. But I am still very Pinoy. I have Filipino blood coursing through my veins, although I have laid down roots in the US. I’m proud to be an American of Filipino descent. Both my parents were born in the Philippines. They moved to the US when they were young, but they’ve remained close to their Filipino roots. They are both American citizens, as am I.
How is your homecoming so far?
BP has been most welcoming and warm. The company is full of lovely people and we share a common bond in our love of dancing and performing. My parents arrived from Los Angeles a few days ago and we have a big family reunion planned for after the show, which I am very excited about. And it’s been great fun rediscovering my love for Filipino food. It’s a good thing I’m working so intensely in rehearsal, otherwise my partner would be getting more of a workout than he was expecting!
How did your guesting in BP’s Giselle come about?
A former CCP scholar, Cristina Escoda, had a dance career in a few ballet companies, including American Ballet Theater (ABT). After she stopped dancing she joined the administrative team and is now the artistic administrator of ABT. I had expressed a desire to dance here in Manila and she thought it would be lovely to reconnect to her ballet roots. So she reached out to some people at BP to see if my guesting would be of interest to them. They suggested Giselle, a ballet I adore.
You joined American Ballet Theater when you were 17. Have you always loved ballet?
American Ballet Theater was my dream company and I was thrilled to have been granted an audition, and then offered a job. It was a golden opportunity, and I didn’t think twice about whether or not to take it. Over the years, I’ve taken a few university courses while working full-time at ABT. I did not have a conventional university experience as I began my career early with ABT.
You’ve performed in Europe and US. How was your experience?
Both the US and Europe respect the art form with similar levels of enthusiasm. Perhaps I could say that the traditions are more deeply set in European culture, but it is understandable because the US is a considerably younger country.
What is the schedule like for an international dancer?
Traveling is a big part of the ABT experience. We tour often, both domestically and internationally, and I love it. It’s fantastic experiencing different cultures, seeing some local sights, and eating local food. ABT employs us for 36 weeks per year. During the “off” time, I’ve had the opportunity to dance in galas all over the US and abroad in different countries.
What challenges did you face when you were just starting?
I was really very lucky. I was fearless and enthusiastic and passionate about my career choice. I couldn’t really say I had any major hardships. I’ve always been very independent, so homesickness was never an issue.
What has been your most memorable experience?
I’ve had many wonderfully memorable performances but one stands out in my mind: Antony Tudor’s “The Leaves are Fading” at the City Center, New York on Oct. 31, 2007. My husband, Sascha Radetsky, and I danced the central pas deux. The music is divine and the couple portrays a young, hopeful love. It was amazing to have that deep emotional connection with my partner in a piece that we both loved so much.
What are your future plans?
I’d like to continue my Stand for the Philippines fundraising. Career-wise, I’d like to dance longer. When the right time comes, I’d like to pass on what I’ve learned to the next generation of dancers as a coach.
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