ANNIVERSARY GALA, FLAMENCO, RAMA HARI MARK THIRD QUARTER PROGRAMMING OF THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES

This July, the Philippine premier art institution gears up for the fifth edition of Andrea O. Veneracion International (AOV) Choral Festival. Named after the founder of world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, Philippine National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, the biennial choral competition is slated on 20 – 23 July, at the Samsung Circuit Performing Arts Theatre in Makati, Philippines. 

Choral groups from Southeast Asia will compete in Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir categories and will have the chance to participate in the Asia Choral Grand Prix (ACGP). This year, the ACGP will happen on 25 July in Bali, Indonesia, with winners of AOV Choral Festival 2019, Don Bosco Makati-Boscorale and Far Eastern University Chorale, representing the country. 

August is all about cinematic experience with the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (Cinemalaya). For its 18th edition, the Philippines’ biggest independent film festival will screen 10 full-lengths and 10 short feature films, as well as selected exhibition films, 4 – 13 August, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) inside the CCP Complex along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. 

September marks CCP’s 54th founding anniversary. As an annual tradition, the CCP will have its anniversary gala on 8 and 9 September, at the Samsung Performing Arts Centre. 

The CCP also brings back Rama Hari, headlined by Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, on 22 and 23 September, at Samsung Performing Arts Center.  Based on the Ramayana, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of Ancient India, the dance-musical production is the product of five Philippine National Artists – National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera for the libretto, National Artists Rolando Tinio for its English translation, Ryan Cayabyab for the music, Salvador Bernal for the production design, and Alice Reyes for the direction and choreography. 

Seville-based Granada Flamenco Ballet’ Bailame (Dance for Me) will happen on 20 and 21 September at the Casino Espanol de Cebu, and on 22 and 23 September at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theatre). The ballet performances break down the boundaries between music and dance, focusing on the sensations and feelings associated with these two art forms. 

Bailame Poster (Image Courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines)

Be a part of these events. Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) or follow the official CCP Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for more information.