Czarina Villegas, ballerina
Czarina Othelia Dawn Villegas
Ashley Merrill. Balabina Feyanew. Chenchikova Olga. Højlund Tina. Lindqvist Marie.
These are the names of some famous ballerinas. Who knows, an Ilongga might make it to the list and it could be Czarina Othelie Dawn Villegas.
Czarina, 19, daugther of Jo Zenda, an Ilongga and Cesar Villegas, Tagalog is on vacation in Iloilo City and has shared with The News Today her passion on ballet.
She had been studying ballet since she was four years old. Now, she is doing shows for Ballet Manila as well as her school, De La Salle College of St. Benilde. She has more than 30 major performances to her name.
Get to know more about Czarina in this interview.
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): Who influenced you to take up ballet?
Czarina Villegas (CV): My grandmother and mother because they also took up ballet at one time.
KMV: What have you learned from your training?
CV: I learned discipline. We were asked to be at the school or venue before the scheduled start of class or program. Until now, I'm applying this wherever I go. From the tours, I learned to be independent. I learned how to apply makeup at a very young age.
KMV: I understand you also dance for your school?
CV: Yes. I am a scholar of De la Salle College of St. Benilde under the Office of Culture and Arts. We do shows, undergo trainings and join competitions. We're called the SB Romancon Dance Company.
KMV: How about in Ballet Manila?
CV: I was able to perform with them last September to October 2007.
KMV: What's your specialty dance?
CV: Classical ballet. And in ballet, I love Adagio because of its slow and flowy movements. I'm not so good with jumping. I also like Spanish ballet, jazz, modern dance and hiphop.
KMV: What is your most memorable competition?
CV: The National Music Competition for Young Artists (Namcya) 2005. There were 25 of us who competed and I was hailed as a finalist. There were pressure there because the competitors were all very good. That's where my dancing career perked up. I have plans of joining Namcya 2008 Senior Level on November 28.
KMV: Who's your favorite ballerina?
CV: Paulina Semionova. She's Russian. I admire her discipline at a young age. I always watch her in CDs.
KMV: What's your ultimate goal where ballet is concerned?
CV: To be part of an international ballet company. I would like to teach, too. My efforts today gear towards that goal. After college, I plan to apply as resident company member of Ballet Manila, and then apply in an international ballet company.
KMV: What's your course at De La Salle?
CV: Arts Management.
This photo with Osias Barosso, Ballet
Manila Dance Master was taken in 1999.
KMV: Why take up that course?
CV: I won't be dancing forever. By studying Arts Management, I get to work in creative industries. I could manage a museum, television, ballet school, marketing and advertising, among others.
KMV: You've been onstage most of your young life. How does it feel?
CV: Oh, I'm nervous when I'm onstage. But after I'm done with the piece, I feel fulfilled.
KMV: How do you handle every performance?
CV: I dance with all my heart. the Ballet Philippines CCP Dance School in 2006.