Ballet Manila Celebrates 30 Years with a Showcase of Its Finest Performances

 Like a pearl whose luster and sheen get better with age, Ballet Manila’s 30th year celebration reflects the graceful passage of the years, marked by a series of stellar productions featuring world-renowned ballet superstars from the US and Russia, all set to take place at the AliwTheater, Pasay City.

Ballet Manila’s Bloom Pas De Deux featuring Joshua Rey Enciso and Stephanie Kerilen Santiago

 

Dubbed the “The Pearl Year,” Ballet Manila is opening the performance season with The Pearl Gala on March 7, 2025, at 8 PM, and on March 8 & 9, 2025, at 5 PM. A collection of the best and most exquisite performance pieces from Ballet Manila, the gala features the world premiere of “Pearls,” choreographed by none other than Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director, along with fellow award-winning choreographers Martin Lawrance and Gerardo Francisco Jr.

 

Details of the anniversary celebration and the new performance season were announced during Ballet Manila’s 30th anniversary launch, held recently at the Shangri-La Mall, which extended its support to Ballet Manila by hosting the event as part of its initiatives for National Arts Month. “This is a wonderful opportunity to emphasize our mission of bringing ballet to the people and people to ballet, as well as highlight ballet as a beautiful art form,” shared Macuja-Elizalde. 

Ballet Manila choreographer Martin Lawrance; principal dancers Joshua Enciso, Romeo Peralta and Junmark Sumaylo

CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde; principal dancers Abigail Lynn Oliveiro and Shaira May Comeros; artistic associate Gerardo Francisco Jr; and event host Mitch Valdes

Ballet Manila’s The Pearl Gala will open with “Paquita,” which was first performed by Ballet Manila during its first ballet concert 30 years ago. After three decades, the dance company is performing it once again to highlight how a ballet company’s mettle, strength, and quality are measured by its corps de ballet and not only by its soloists or principals. The production will also allow the ballerinas to shine on their own in different variations and codas.

 

From the very classical “Paquita,” the gala will present “Bloom,” originally choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa in 2014, and performed by many American companies such as Cincinnati Ballet and Los Angeles Ballet. Once again, the number will showcase the diversity and strengths of the company in its 30th year, but this time with a male-dominated corps de ballet – a unique feature in a ballet company.

 

“Pearls” will complete the gala to show how the development of the pearl is similar to that of a dancer.  The dance company’s journey will be depicted through different kinds of pearls. The ballet is divided into six parts, with each dancer representing a unique jewel that is trained for years before achieving such effortless grace – just like a pearl composed of many layers that ultimately create a beautiful gem. The ballet will culminate with the pearls dancing in both classical and contemporary styles.

 

From The Pearl Gala, Ballet Manila continues the performance season with the classical ballet production “Swan Lake” on May 30, 2025, at 8 PM, and on May 31 and June 1, 2025, at 5 PM. A special matinee on May 31, 2025, at 1:00 PM will feature Ballet Manila principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro and San Francisco Ballet company artist Nathaniel Remez as the leads.

 

Adding to the acclaim, guest celebrity ballet dancers from San Francisco Ballet -- soloist Katherine Barkman, who was formerly a principal dancer with Ballet Manila, and principal dancer Esteban Hernandez -- will grace the stage. Barkman will perform the dual roles of Odette (White Swan) and Odile (Black Swan), alongside Hernandez as the male lead. The duo will perform in all three shows.

 

A fitting choice for the company’s 30th year, “Swan Lake” is one of the most difficult ballets to perform for a prima ballerina because of the extreme technical demands of Odile and the soft lyricism of Odette. “Swan Lake” will once again highlight Ballet Manila’s commitment to excellence as it showcases the Russian Vaganova training that Ballet Manila continues to specialize in.

 

Closing the performance season is “Don Quixote,” another classical ballet featuring the return of ballet superstar, Mariinsky Prima Ballerina Renata Shakirova. 

 

For Macuja-Elizalde, “Don Quixote” is a brilliant way to end the season as it has become a signature full-length ballet of the company. Kitri has also become Lisa Macuja-Elizalde's signature role as a ballerina, and it is also a signature role for Renata, who will be able to showcase her light gigantic leaps, multiple and fast pirouettes, and the 32 fouettés that everyone can look forward to. Playing alongside Renata is Joshua Enciso, making his debut as Basilio.

 

“Don Quixote,” emphasizes Macuja-Elizalde, is a great way to close the season on a positive note as it is a ballet that seems like a two-hour nonstop celebration. “We have a very packed and exciting performance season, and I’m excited for the audience to finally see what we have worked so hard for on our Pearl Year,” she said.

 

All performances will be staged at Aliw Theater, Pasay City. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.To learn more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph

Ballet Manila will present a stunning restaging of 'Giselle

 World-renowned ballet superstars from the prestigious Mariinsky Ballet, Renata Shakirova and Alexei Timofeyev, will be coming to Manila for a rare Philippine performance in the restaging of Ballet Manila’s Giselle set to happen at the Aliw Theater on August 31, 2024 at 8pm and September 1, 2024 at 5 pm.

This much-awaited collaboration with the Russian superstars of ballet once again highlights Ballet Manila’s artistry and keen eye for excellence in every production, by working with world-class performers – this time for Giselle. This very special collaboration was made possible by Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s artistic director and chief executive officer, and her close ties with the Mariinsky Ballet (formerly Kirov Ballet) where she also trained and became the first foreign soloist in the mid-80s. She shared, “The fact that we are collaborating with guest artists and star performers Renata Shakirova and Alexsei Timofeyev will always bring out the best in the company.”

With their star power, Macuja Elizalde couldn’t be more excited for their rendition of the well-loved Giselle. “I think that Renata’s true romantic style of dancing and the fact that she is dancing with her real-life prince Alexei is going to transform Ballet Manila’s Giselle to a Giselle of another level,” she adds. The world-renowned Russian dancers, incidentally, are married to each other in real life. 

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Renata joined Mariinsky Ballet, one of the leading dance companies in the world, upon her graduation in 2015 and was immediately given her first principal role as Kitri in Don Quixote. That same year, she was listed among the 25 to Watch by Dance Magazine. And in 2016, she competed in the Bolshoi Ballet Competition, where she won first prize. 

Meanwhile, Leningrad-born Alexei joined Mariinsky Ballet in 2004 and is currently the soloist of the dance company. As a soloist, he managed to secure various awards under his belt, including prize-winner at the VII International Ballet Competition in Seoul in 2010; diploma-recipient at the XVI International Rudolf Nureyev Ballet Festival in 2010 where he was cited for his superb levels of professionalism and contribution to the development of ballet in the Republic of Bashkortostan; and diploma-recipient at the XI International Ballet Dancers’ and Choreographers’ Competition in Moscow in 2009.

While it is their first time to perform on the Philippine stage, Renata is looking forward to connecting  with the Filipino audience through her performance. “What’s important to be able to connect with the audience, wherever they are, but especially with a Filipino audience, is to highlight the small nuances that are included in the performance, like the turn of the head or the eye-to-eye contact with your partner, so that the emotions in the story can be conveyed and that the audience can enjoy the show.”

Meanwhile, Alexei excitedly looks forward to performing in front of a new audience, as he noted, “We are feeling the good kind of vibes with the Filipino audience, and we want them to live the story of Giselle with us on stage. It’s going to be our first time, and we hope to share that special experience with all of them.”

The third offering of Ballet Manila’s 26th performance season, dubbed Ballet Masterpieces, Giselle is a classic love story of a village girl (Giselle) who falls in love with Albrecht, not knowing he is already engaged. When she finds out, she dies of a broken heart and becomes a wili, joining the souls of girls who are also wronged by their men. Meanwhile, Albrecht visits the grave of Giselle, who protects him from Myrtha, the vengeful queen of the wilis. 

Complementing their performances is a dynamic ensemble made up of young and veteran dancers from Ballet Manila, which, according to Macuja Elizalde, is the main change for the restaging of Giselle. “Ballet Manila Corps de Ballet is made up of more young members who have just joined the company post-pandemic - standing side by side with Ballet Manila dancers who are "veterans" and have performed the ballet many times before.”

The two-act ballet will interestingly showcase the talents of real-life couples both on and off stage. Ballet Manila's principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo will headline the performance on August 31 at 1pm while the world-renowned duo Renata and Alexei will take on the title roles  on August 31 at 8pm and September 1 at 5pm.

All performances will be staged at Aliw Theater, Pasay City. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. To know more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph 

Ballet Manila re-stages “Don Quixote”, showcasing the dance company’s strength in classical ballet

Relive the adventure and romance of one of the most beloved performances in classical ballet as Ballet Manila re-stages “Don Quixote”, showcasing the dance company’s strength in classical ballet at its highest standards. The shows will be on May 27, 2023, at 8 PM and May 28, 2023, at 5 PM at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

"The challenges that Ballet Manila has faced these past years have proven our grit and resilience in the face of adversity, which I believe is relatable with Don Quixote's burning passion, the love for adventure and challenges to prove oneself. It also fills me with so much excitement to showcase our edge in classical ballet once again as a dance company with the return of Don Quixote this year," said Macuja Elizalde. 

Embodying the Hispanic spirit of Don Quixote’s epic tale is American danseur and a rising star of San Francisco Ballet Esteban Hernandez, who will fly into Manila to perform as Basilio, Kitri’s love interest. Hernandez is fast gaining recognition in the international ballet scene. He joined San Francisco Ballet in 2013, was promoted as a soloist in 2017 and principal dancer in 2019.

One of the most notable feats of San Francisco’s rising star was his performance at Gala Despertares in Mexico City, which was produced by Soul Arts Productions, owned by Esteban and his brother, Isaac Hernandez. He has also received multiple accolades including the Latino Spirit Award from the California Latino Legislative Caucus for achievements in the performing arts held at Sacramento, California, He is also a recipient of the Jerome Robbins Foundation Award and gold medals at the Youth America Grand Prix and was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Mexico.

The iconic role of Kitri, on the other hand, will be performed by Ballet Manila’s principal dancer, Jasmine Pia Dames, who is also a Gawad Buhay 2015 awardee as Best Featured Female in Classical Ballet for her role in Romeo and Juliet. Interestingly, her twin sister Jessica Pearl portrayed the same role in the modern iteration of the same story directed by Martin Lawrance in February, which is also part of the 25^th season performance. 

“The role of Kitri has always been one of my favorite ballerina roles. As a mentor and director, it brings me great joy to see Ballet Manila’s future Kitris embody the grace, strength, and passion that this role demands,” said Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Artistic Director of Ballet Manila. “We see this as an opportunity to showcase the depth of talent in our company,” she adds.

Don Quixote is part of Ballet Manila's 25th season performance on its 27th year which was kicked off by Martin Lawrance’s very Filipino and contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet in February. 

To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 8891 9999. 

For more information about Ballet Manila and its upcoming shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph.

Ballet Manila will stage the timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, version prepared by British choreographer Martin Lawrance

Enduring love, grief and sadness are universal themes that transcend age, time, and cultures. It is with this thought that Ballet Manila’s resident British choreographer Martin Lawrance  created his version of the timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, uniquely adapted to the modern Filipino setting. The show will have its world premiere on February 18, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. with a second performance on February 19, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at Aliw Theater in Pasay City. 

The performances also mark the debut of Joshua Enciso and Pearl Dames, who will be dancing the titular role of the tragic lovers, as principal dancers of the company. 

“Romeo and Juliet is a story that is tinged with sadness, sorrow, and endless love,” shared Lawrance. “I believe that stories like these still happen to this day and can be put in any culture or time zone, and can be interpreted in many ways. But at the end of the day, it’s a story of lost love.”

Newly minted principal dancers, Joshua Enciso and Pearl Dames, dance the roles of Romeo & Juliet in Ballet Manila’s world premiere of this updated classic

Written by famed English playwright William Shakespeare and published in 1597, Romeo and Juliet tells the tale of the forbidden love of two Italian youth from feuding families in Verona, Italy. The story tragically ends with the death of the two star-crossed lovers. 

Considered one of the greatest love stories ever-told, Romeo and Juliet has since had various critically-acclaimed adaptations from movies like Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet to musicals like the West Side Story and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. 

This time, Lawrance reimagines this iconic ballet classic as he combines notable elements from some of these versions while adding his own spin - the performance is set in a quaint Philippine town with dancers dressed in cool, hip costumes while performing to a mash-up of the original scores from Prokofiev and West Side Story, along with popular OPM tunes. 

While one might think that recreating Romeo and Juliet in the Filipino context may have been tough, the British choreographer took it as a challenge to push the envelope creatively: “Coming to the Philippines for almost 10 years and embracing the Filipino culture gave me the freedom to create movements for the show. Ultimately, working with the beautiful dancers of Ballet Manila helped bridge the cultural gap. Through this show, audience will see that it’s possible to re-imagine the classic material into a gritty, fun ballet set in Manila.” 

Moreover, the audience can also look forward to the show’s interesting mix of music, as Lawrance adds,  “I’ve intersected moments of West Side Story, beautiful OPM pieces and a song from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. I see it as an eclectic mix of music that works for the story and my own choreography while giving the dancers, and the audience the joy and freedom of embracing a beautiful tragedy.” 

By the end of the show, Martin Lawrance hopes the audience will also feel the same emotions he felt throughout the whole journey of creating his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.  “I want the audience not only to enjoy an evening of beautiful dancing and entertainment but to feel the sadness and the warmth of love. It will be a story that will never die and never become old for many years to come,” he concluded. 

For Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s artistic director and chief executive officer, she couldn’t be more excited for the world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s work, especially in the newly renovated and upgraded Aliw Theater: “Once again Aliw Theater is open and live performances are back. There is a rebirth and renewal of the ability to perform to a live audience, and that really gives us that huge amount of hope as we welcome a full season of ballet once again.”

Tickets to Romeo & Juliet are available exclusive via www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 8891 9999. To know more about Ballet