Ballets de San Juan’s “Coppélia” Returns with New Production & International Stars

Ballets de San Juan will premiere a newly staged production of the classic ballet “Coppélia” later this month, featuring updated sets and costumes, and performances by international guest artists Scarlett Güémez and Sterling Baca of the Philadelphia Ballet. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, marking the return of the piece to the Puerto Rican stage after more than 70 years.

The production represents a significant moment for the company, as the original pas de deux from “The Wheat Harvest” ballet was part of Ballets de San Juan’s inaugural performance in 1954. Artistic Director Adolfo de La Toba described the new staging as a blend of tradition and innovation. “The design of the sets, the costumes, everything is practically new,” he said, “But without forgetting what was created previously. We are bringing fragments of the history of Ballets de San Juan into the present.”

Güémez emphasized that “Coppélia” demands more than technical precision from its dancers. “We don’t just dance, we have to tell a story,” she said. She noted the comedic nature of the ballet requires performers to integrate acting and dance, making it appealing to audiences of all ages.

A key challenge for the dancers, Güémez added, is the use of pantomime, a crucial element of classical ballet for conveying emotions and advancing the plot. “It’s how we speak with our bodies, with our hands. That’s where the story is really told,” she explained.

Baca highlighted the symbolic importance of performing with Ballets de San Juan, recalling that renowned dancer Fernando Bujones performed the same ballet with the company 46 years ago. “I grew up watching that recording, so it’s an honor to be here now,” he said. He also noted that “Coppélia” offers a balance between technical demands and narrative clarity, making it particularly attractive to new audiences. “It has everything one looks for in a ballet – a high level of technique and a clear, fun story for the whole family,” he indicated.

Both artists agreed that the piece requires a comprehensive mastery of the craft, where technique serves as an expressive tool rather than an end in itself. Baca rejected the notion of ballet as a static art form. “It’s not an art of the museum. It’s constantly evolving, and each generation brings something new,” he affirmed.

De La Toba stated that the inclusion of guest artists provides an additional component of artistic exchange, strengthening the work of the local dance ensemble. “There is a very beautiful enrichment in sharing the stage with international figures,” he said.

The production also reflects an emphasis on the interpretive development of the company’s dancers, an aspect that, according to Güémez, has been central to the rehearsal process. “Sometimes we focus on the pirouette or the trick, but here there is strong work on acting,” she said.

The performances will take place at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce, as part of the company’s spring programming. The production features Mayuko Nihei and Argenis Montalvo, principal dancers from the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) of Mexico, alongside the Ballets de San Juan company members.