Philippine Ambassador Wilfredo Santos addressing the gathering at Katara Drama Theatre yesterday. Right: The Ballet Philippines performance involved a display of classical and contemporary dance. PICTURES: Jayan Orma

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

A large number of people enjoyed a 90-minute performance by Ballet Philippines at the Katara Drama Theatre yesterday.
The show involved a display of classical and contemporary dance.
“No words are needed to understand the emotions behind a dancer’s movements,” said Philippine Ambassador Wilfredo Santos, who was joined by government officials, diplomats from other embassies, members of the Filipino community in Doha, private and public sector representatives and other embassy officials.
Unlike songs, which can be hindered by language barriers, Santos noted that dance is defined by movement as guided by an accompanying melody.
“In planning this cultural diplomacy initiative of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in the Middle East, what better way to showcase Filipino artistry than through dance?”
Santos said the show, dubbed “Masterpieces: Celebrating a Tapestry of Filipino Culture and Friendship”, offered not just a rich cultural experience for the foreign guests but also signified the embassy’s hand of friendship.
“The practice of diplomacy is all about building friendships, and culture and the arts are effective tools of fostering such friendly relations,” he added.
The envoy thanked Katara – the Cultural Village headed by its general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti for hosting the “one-of-its-kind” Filipino cultural performance. Katara had also served as the venue of the 2015 Association of South East Asian Nations Festival.
The event takes the partnership between the Philippine embassy and Katara on cultural diplomacy to a higher level, according to Santos.
For Ballet Philippines’ artistic director Paul Alexander Morales, dance is a form of prayer. “It is a way to understand nature and a testament of the great power of God,” he said.
Ballet Philippines first performed abroad in 1972 - in Russia and Spain. Its Middle East tour intends to showcase Filipino artistry through dance.
The group has performed in various other parts of the world.
Apart from being the Philippines’ flagship company involved in ballet and contemporary dance, Ballet Philippines is widely recognised as the cornerstone of the Filipino cultural identity.