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.
All in Ballet Manila Moments
This clip shows the two performances of Les Sylphides staged 19 years apart – a long but worthy wait for some stunning Ballet Manila moments.
This clip features scenes from three shows of Le Corsaire – one in 1998 (with Osias Barroso and Pamela Asprer) and two in 2018 (with Katherine Barkman and Nicole Barroso as Gulnara, and with Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro).
In this clip are excerpts of Sayaw Sa Pamlang taken from performances in the Philippines (2001 and 2016) and in Malaysia (2019).
In this clip is a trip down memory lane with a performance of Original Pilipino Music Suite from 1998 at the GSIS Theater, featuring principal dancers Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso.
In this video are three different casts of Sotto Voce performed as part of Ballet Manila’s various productions: World Stars of Ballet (2012), Iconic 1.0 (2018) and Tour de Force (2019).
On February 17, 1995, during Ballet Manila’s first performance as a company entitled Ballet Manila Dances!, Shaz also debuted as a professional choreographer with In Quest as his first offering.
Success comes not from a single winning moment but a series of victories, both big and small.
Finding the right partner is one of the most important, life-altering decisions that a ballet dancer will ever make in his or her professional career.
In this clip, Christine is joined by Ballet Manila principal dancers Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Mark Sumaylo, as well as former BM artists Rudy De Dios and Tiffany Chiang-Janolo.
The choreography is eight minutes long and offers an insight into Geri’s artistry, leading to that moment when the choreographer found his wings and took flight.
Carmen holds a special place in the proud history of Ballet Manila.
Lune, a piece about two similarly clad women attempting to assert their individuality but ending up doing the same thing, premiered in 2014 as performed by Sofia Sangco-Peralta and Naomi Jaena.
This clip shows one of the most memorable scenes in Rebel with the entire company on stage dancing to the protest anthem, Bayan Ko.
In these clips, we see the mother and daughter performing their respective solos for a sentimental Ballet Manila Moment.
Sleeping Beauty is special to Lisa for a lesser known reason.
This clip from the 2001 tour is an excerpt of Jojo Lucila’s Sari’t Bahag, a Filipino choreography based on a Philippine folk tradition performed by Filipino dancers trained in the Russian technique and dancing at the Maly Theater in Russia to an appreciative Russian audience.
It marked the first collaboration between choreographer Augustus "Bam” Damian III with the company - the first of many that would become iconic pieces for Ballet Manila.
In an art form dominated by women, Ballet Manila holds a distinction for having a surplus of male dancers.
Don Quixote is a staple in Ballet Manila’s repertoire. This clip from 2004 features Lisa and Shaz as Kitri and Basilio celebrating their love with a spirited dance for two.
The dramatic appearance and synchronized movements of the wilis — the spirits of young women who die before their wedding — make Giselle one of the most challenging ballets for the female corps.
