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 Interviews
Ballet Manila company artist Angelika Tagupa is a Physics major who is determined to dance professionally, even as she’s busy working on her thesis.
Originally from Australia, with a Filipino father and an Australian mother, Noah always knew that he would like to pursue ballet since he first witnessed a performance of it.
We invited the four to the Ballet Manila Archives to tell us what they remember from those moments that they could only collectively describe as surreal.
Asked what made Ballet Manila a great option for her, despite having to move far away from home again, Eva replies, “There are several reasons why I came back. The first has to do with the classes being done in the Vaganova method.”
Last August, Gelo was finally able to avail of a Royal Ballet School scholarship that was part of his prize at the Asian Grand Prix in 2020, long delayed by pandemic constraints.
When the Rebel choreographer stepped into the company’s unique three-walled studio, he saw Lisa Macuja-Elizalde busy as ever with teaching. Once the company members spotted him, they all paused and applauded to welcome him, as he and Lisa hugged each other and cried.
In July, this ballerina found herself flying to Russia to take part in the Innopraktika & Russian Seasons School’s (IRSS) Choreography 2022,.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many teenagers to quickly mature, and ballerina Elyssabeth Apilado is no stranger to this.
Recently promoted as Assistant of the Directress, this educator observes that as more months were spent learning from home, she and the other teachers were able to master the online platform more and more.
In 2018, this ballerina thought that she had already seen the last of her days in pointe shoes as motherhood brought about many changes to her body.
These days, Ballet Manila’s resident barista is trying to balance his duties in Ballet Manila and SP Coffee.
A different kind of enthusiasm is evident in Marinette Franco's face each time she talks about ballet.
As a young man who entertained vices at one point, ballet gave him purpose and a second chance at a better life; and as a father in his twenties, dancing helped him to give his wife and daughter the means to live comfortably.
And though the future is unpredictable for him at the moment, Romeo fights to keep moving forward.
“Ready na! Sobrang ready na ako!” (I’m ready! I’m so ready to dance!) These were the words of Ballet Manila principal dancer Pia Dames when asked if she was prepared to take the stage should the theaters suddenly open tomorrow.
Danseur Elpidio Magat Jr. was perhaps in the worst place one could be when the first pandemic lockdown was announced in March 2020.
Eileen, who is a Ballet Manila pioneer, paints a picture of how face-to-face classes are different from online ones.
“Do I go home?” This was one of the big questions that Abigail “Abi” Oliveiro faced when things began to take a different turn in 2020.
Shaira always sports a smile that we couldn't help but ask if she's ever weighed down by the uncertainty of the pandemic.
The principal dancer says that engaging in other activities such as redecorating their living space, playing games on an old PS4, and taking on photography assignments helped him deal with pandemic pressures so much better.
