I believe I can fly: Victor Maguad on becoming Peter Pan

By Jasmine Agnes T. Cruz

BALLET
Peter Pan
Presented by Ballet Philippines
Dec. 4 to 1
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City

Ballet Philippines’ (BP) soloist Victor Maguad is ready to fly to Neverland in BP’s upcoming show Peter Pan at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Dancing since the age of seven when he trained under Luther Perez, Tony Fabella, and Eddie Elejar at the Manila Dance Center, he went on to play roles such as Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, the male variation in Paquita, “Peasant Pas de Quatre” in Giselle, the male in the “Esmeralda Pas de Deux” for Art of Dance, and Gawigawen in Manhid.

Fueled by these experiences, Mr. Maguad now has the opportunity to play the titular role in Peter Pan alternating with Jean Marc Cordero and Cyril Aran Fallar opposite ballerinas Rita Angela Winder, Jemima Reyes, and Monica Amanda Gana as Wendy.

First conceptualized as a book and a play by James Matthew Barrie, the beloved story of the boy who never wanted to grow up was turned into a ballet by Edna Vida Froilan for BP. It was first staged in 1983, and restaged in 1986, 1992, 2001, and 2010.

Though this is the first time Mr. Maguad will play Peter Pan, he practically grew up with the show. As a child he played Michael, one of the Darling brothers, in BP’s 2001 production. Then in 2010, he was the other brother, John. “I actually memorize all the parts in the show,” said the young dancer, who bagged 3rd place in the Juniors Ballet category of the 2007 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and 2nd place at the 1st CCP Ballet Competition.

Helping him in his new role is choreographer Ms. Froilan, who is at rehearsals every day. “She said to me, ‘I don’t want to see Victor; I want to see Peter Pan’,” he told BusinessWorld in Filipino during an interview on Nov. 24.

Though he is already 22, he has to believe that he is 14-years old, the age of the character. But when he was that age, he was the opposite of Peter Pan — a loner and not very adventurous. Which is why it is a challenge for him to be innocent, playful, and fearless inthe role. To embody this persona, Mr. Maguad has been avidly watching several Peter Pan movies so that he can understand how the character behaves. Before he gets on the stage, it is important for Mr. Maguad to internalize the character. “It won’t come out of your body if it isn’t inside of you,” he said in Filipino. “You have to take the character to heart. Only then can the movements authentically come out from you.”

There is also a real element of danger — the role entails sword fights and their prop swords are made of metal. He described the fight scene as an epic battle where many of the Neverland characters crowd the stage. “You have to know all the steps or else you will get injured,” he said.

Then there is the flying. At the time of the interview, Mr. Maguad had not yet rehearsed those levitating scenes but he did experience it in the previous productions. He remembers wearing a heavy harness and flying up 20 feet.

“I was never afraid of heights,” he said in Filipino. “It was just fun.”

For details, visit www.ballet.ph, e-mail to info@ballet.ph, or call 551-1003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704, or TicketWorld at 891-9999.