Ballet Manila Archives

The Ballet Manila Archives is the repository of documents, print, photographic, audio and video materials and memorabilia relating to the history of Ballet Manila and the life and career of its founder, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. This site is powered by Ms. Elizalde and Project Art, Inc.

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La Bayadere: The complexity of Gamzatti

Aug 13

Aug 13 La Bayadere: The complexity of Gamzatti

Ballet Manila Archives

Spotlight On The Classics

For Ballet Manila’s full-length productions of La Bayadere, the role of Gamzatti was performed by Marian Faustino, Mylene Aggabao, Sandra Lynn Huang, Jan Erika Basilio and Violet Hong.

Leading La Bayadere: A first for principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro and soloists Noah Esplana and Shamira Drapete

Aug 12

Aug 12 Leading La Bayadere: A first for principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro and soloists Noah Esplana and Shamira Drapete

Ballet Manila Archives

Though these three artists have starred in classical ballets, La Bayadere – being a full-length that hasn’t been staged by Ballet Manila since 2013 – is a first for them.

La Bayadere: The hazy legacy of Solor

Aug 10

Aug 10 La Bayadere: The hazy legacy of Solor

Ballet Manila Archives

Spotlight On The Classics

A closer look, however, reveals that the hero may not have been as willing to sacrifice for his temple dancer.

Golden moments: Geri Francisco on passing the La Bayadere ‘Idol’ torch to soloists Jos David Andes and Rafael Perez

Aug 7

Aug 7 Golden moments: Geri Francisco on passing the La Bayadere ‘Idol’ torch to soloists Jos David Andes and Rafael Perez

Ballet Manila Archives

For Ballet Manila’s 31st year, Geri – now Ballet Manila co-artistic associate – is entrusting the role to soloists Jos David Andes and Rafael “Paeng” Perez.

La Bayadere: The quiet courage of Nikiya

Aug 5

Aug 5 La Bayadere: The quiet courage of Nikiya

Ballet Manila Archives

Spotlight On The Classics

Very few would suspect that its choreographer Marius Petipa was fighting almost every step of the way with prima ballerina Ekaterina Vazem who took on the lead role of Nikiya.

Corps values: Two ballerinas share the key to keeping a strong and striking ensemble

Aug 3

Aug 3 Corps values: Two ballerinas share the key to keeping a strong and striking ensemble

Ballet Manila Archives

Company artists Marinette Franco and Angelika Tagupa take a lot of pride in corps dancing and are very serious about upholding the tradition of “being a single organism” on stage.

La Bayadere: A spectacle of a ballet

Aug 1

Aug 1 La Bayadere: A spectacle of a ballet

Ballet Manila Archives

Spotlight On The Classics

Marius Petipa’s most popular exotic ballet premiered in 1877 at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, Saint Petersburg to an appreciative audience that immediately hailed it as a masterpiece.

Forbidden love and iconic dancing as Ballet Manila’s ‘La Bayadere’ returns

Jul 30

Jul 30 Forbidden love and iconic dancing as Ballet Manila’s ‘La Bayadere’ returns

Ballet Manila Archives

According to the prima ballerina, La Bayadere is considered the most difficult among all the white ballets.

Talk About Dance: George Chakiris

Jul 27

Jul 27 Talk About Dance: George Chakiris

Ballet Manila Archives

Talk About Dance

No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.

This Month in BM History: July 1995

Jul 25

Jul 25 This Month in BM History: July 1995

Ballet Manila Archives

This Month In BM History

Ballet Manila’s tour was a historic feat considering that the dancers were the first Filipino delegates to the International Music Festival of the Asia-Pacific Region in Krasnoyarsk.

Three of a Kind: Tale of a temple dancer

Jul 23

Jul 23 Three of a Kind: Tale of a temple dancer

Ballet Manila Archives

Three of a Kind

As the company prepares to bring it back for a fourth time, we put the spotlight on the souvenir program covers of its previous productions.

Talk About Dance: Ghazallah al-Badriyyah

Jul 20

Jul 20 Talk About Dance: Ghazallah al-Badriyyah

Ballet Manila Archives

Talk About Dance

The heart of the dance is the heart of the dancer.

Soundbites: ‘The repetition of these still poses is choreographically meant to suggest a dreamlike ambience’

Jul 18

Jul 18 Soundbites: ‘The repetition of these still poses is choreographically meant to suggest a dreamlike ambience’

Ballet Manila Archives

“There was that breath in dancing, a quality that’s hardly seen in the younger generation. “

Angelika Tagupa: Headed back to school but far from hanging up her pointe shoes

Jul 16

Jul 16 Angelika Tagupa: Headed back to school but far from hanging up her pointe shoes

Ballet Manila Archives

Angelika Tagupa has been living her dream the last three years.

Three of a Kind: Three reasons to watch ‘La Bayadere’

Jul 14

Jul 14 Three of a Kind: Three reasons to watch ‘La Bayadere’

Ballet Manila Archives

Three of a Kind

After 16 years, Ballet Manila is bringing back the spectacle in August and here are three good reasons to catch it.

Ballet Manila in Full Color: Purely purple

Jul 11

Jul 11 Ballet Manila in Full Color: Purely purple

Ballet Manila Archives

Ballet Manila is dreamy in purple.

Dancing with Ballet Manila a dream-come-true for apprentice Michel Quan

Jul 9

Jul 9 Dancing with Ballet Manila a dream-come-true for apprentice Michel Quan

Ballet Manila Archives

“I wanted something more – something that I had always wanted to do, which was to move to Manila and dance with Ballet Manila,” she shares.

Talk About Dance: Russell Clark

Jul 6

Jul 6 Talk About Dance: Russell Clark

Ballet Manila Archives

Talk About Dance

Dance helps us dream bigger dreams and understand our connectedness. When we close our eyes and dream, we are all brothers.

In Their Own Words: Company artist Samantha Garay on how commitment helped her stay the course

Jul 2

Jul 2 In Their Own Words: Company artist Samantha Garay on how commitment helped her stay the course

Ballet Manila Archives

In Their Own Words

“Doon ko nare-realize na kailangan kong tumayo ulit at lumaban.”

Apprentice Maxeene Castillo dances for the joy of ballet

Jul 1

Jul 1 Apprentice Maxeene Castillo dances for the joy of ballet

Ballet Manila Archives

“I was never really supposed to be in ballet,” says Ballet Manila apprentice Maxeene Castillo.