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.

Categories

All in Features

Winged ballets: Corvus

May 15

May 15 Winged ballets: Corvus

Ballet Manila Archives

“Corvus” is the Latin word for crow, and it is the menacing nature of this black bird that convinced Gerardo "Geri" Francisco to put together a new choreography based on it.

In praise of Vaganova

Mar 31

Mar 31 In praise of Vaganova

Ballet Manila Archives

Since its founding in 1995, Ballet Manila has subscribed to the Vaganova training method – the same technique that now artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde had learned in the 1980s in St. Petersburg.

Making the most of summer ballet classes

Mar 28

Mar 28 Making the most of summer ballet classes

Ballet Manila Archives

So how should students – especially those who are stepping foot in a studio for the first time – make the most of their summer ballet classes? Ballet Manila teachers Eileen Lopez and Jonathan “Jay” Janolo, who are also the BM company’s rehearsal mistress and rehearsal master respectively, offer a variety of advice for both the kids and their parents.

An uplifting debut in Russia

Mar 22

Mar 22 An uplifting debut in Russia

Ballet Manila Archives

A dream come true, Ballet Manila principal dancer Katherine Barkman writes about how she found her way to Russia through faith and perseverance.

Memories of Basilio

Feb 23

Feb 23 Memories of Basilio

Ballet Manila Archives

Kitri may be the firecracker star of Don Quixote, but her energy, stamina and vigor can be matched by her equally feisty partner Basilio.

A taste of China

Jan 28

Jan 28 A taste of China

Ballet Manila Archives

With the celebration of Chinese New Year, Ballet Manila presents this Chinese-themed scene from one of the most popular ballets of all time – The Nutcracker.

2 Kitris and a Basilio

Jan 19

Jan 19 2 Kitris and a Basilio

Ballet Manila Archives

On September 9, 1993, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde wrote the following piece in her On Pointes column for the national broadsheet Malaya, just as she was about to dance as Kitri once more.

Ballet Manila's Top 5 moments of 2016

Dec 29

Dec 29 Ballet Manila's Top 5 moments of 2016

Ballet Manila Archives

In the year that it marked its 21st anniversary, Ballet Manila continued to make its presence felt in the local and international dance scenes.

BM School ‘ambassadors’ back from Beijing

Nov 24

Nov 24 BM School ‘ambassadors’ back from Beijing

Ballet Manila Archives

Ballet Manila happily welcomed back its four student-delegates to the recently concluded 2016 Beijing Dance Performance Series for Dance Schools.

Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (Third of three parts)

Nov 21

Nov 21 Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (Third of three parts)

Ballet Manila Archives

Dawna Reign Mangahas shares her shoe hoarding tendencies and other footwear stories in the third and final installment of Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas.

Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (Second of three parts)

Nov 16

Nov 16 Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (Second of three parts)

Ballet Manila Archives

Abigail Oliveiro shares her Cinderella moment and other footwear stories in the second installment of Shoe Talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas.

Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (First of three parts)

Nov 7

Nov 7 Shoe talk with Ballet Manila's Cinderellas (First of three parts)

Ballet Manila Archives

Before the curtains rise on Cinderella, we talk with the three ballerinas about a most fitting topic – what else but shoes!

Ballet's vilest villains

Oct 31

Oct 31 Ballet's vilest villains

Ballet Manila Archives

Ballet Manila toasts the villains who have made classical ballet favorites so wickedly interesting.

Dancing with G-nie

Aug 8

Aug 8 Dancing with G-nie

Ballet Manila Archives

Award-winning advertising photographer G-nie Arambulo collaborates with Ballet Manila to take on the challenge of photographing dancers in motion.

Teaching Bollywood and learning ballet

May 2

May 2 Teaching Bollywood and learning ballet

Ballet Manila Archives

Twice a week this summer, on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Ballet Manila studio in Pasay City is alive with the sounds of Bollywood as students learn this dance style from visiting teacher Deepika Ravindran.

Urban chic meets EDSA colors in Ballet Manila's 'Rebel'

Feb 22

Feb 22 Urban chic meets EDSA colors in Ballet Manila's 'Rebel'

Ballet Manila Archives

From Cory's signature yellow to Imelda's iconic terno, bold colors and designs play a huge part in breathing life into Ballet Manila's latest production, Rebel.

Osias Barroso: Meet the force behind Ballet Manila

Mar 24

Mar 24 Osias Barroso: Meet the force behind Ballet Manila

Ballet Manila Archives

The year was 1996. It was Ballet Manila’s first anniversary concert. Principal danseur Osias Barroso was nursing a 40-degree fever. But like the trooper that he was, it never occurred to him to forego the night’s performance. The show just had to go on.