Ballet Philippines unwraps the holiday magic with a visually stunning, emotionally rich full-length Alice in Wonderland—a bold new take that fuses technical rigor with playful pantomime to reintroduce Lewis Carroll’s classic through the transformative language of dance.
Part of the company’s acclaimed 56th Season, this original adaptation by Artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk invites audiences into a world where imagination has no limits. With breathtaking choreography and theatrical wit, Martynyuk refreshes a timeless tale for today’s families and ballet lovers.
The journey follows Alice, a curious girl who chases a mysterious White Rabbit and tumbles into the whimsical realm of Wonderland. As she ventures deeper, she slips through enchanted doors, sips curious potions, nibbles magical cakes, and wanders gardens of talking flowers—each encounter testing her wits and resolve.
Martynyuk’s inventive staging turns every chapter into a vivid set-piece. A delightfully chaotic tea party with the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse brims with riddles and mischief; the enigmatic Caterpillar nudges Alice toward inner courage; and the stakes soar inside the Queen of Hearts’ unruly court, where flamingos and hedgehogs double as croquet mallets, tempers flare, and justice goes delightfully awry. Accused alongside the Knave of Hearts, Alice finally commands “Stop!”—a bold act that breaks the spell and snaps her back to reality.
What sets this Alice in Wonderland apart is Martynyuk’s marriage of athletic, technically demanding choreography with plastic comedy pantomime, heightening theatrical energy without losing emotional clarity. The result is an immersive, family-friendly spectacle—equally captivating to first-time viewers and ballet aficionados.
“As we continue to evolve Ballet Philippines’ artistic journey, Alice in Wonderland reflects our mission to champion imagination, courage, and discovery,” says Kathleen Liechtenstein, President of Ballet Philippines. “It also advances our purpose: to spotlight Filipino talent on the global stage through collaborations between world-class artists like Mikhail Martynyuk and our homegrown dancers.”
“For me, Alice explores ballet’s limitless creativity,” Martynyuk shares. “We let movement carry the story beyond words—through choreography, mime, and expression—so audiences feel the humor, absurdity, and heart that make Wonderland unforgettable.”
As the dream fades and Alice awakens beside her sister, she emerges transformed—reminded to stay true to herself and to trust the boundless power of imagination. It’s a fitting emblem for Ballet Philippines’ 56th Season, a celebration of creativity, storytelling, and the enduring magic of dance.
✨ Follow the White Rabbit into a world where dreams dance, time twists, and wonder reigns.
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