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.
The musician has the most brothers, and the dancer the most sisters.
With Osias Barroso’s Pinocchio choreography for BM already popular since the original premiered in 2002, the company decided to extend and upgrade the production.
Death scenes in ballet can be complicated, and the moments leading up to a heartbreaking end perhaps the most difficult to accomplish.
What’s a story without a villain in it? Ballet Manila knows this only too well.
“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.
Throughout its 26-year history, Ballet Manila has been home to artists of various nationalities.
As the world observes United Nations Day on October 24, we celebrate those who have come to the Philippines from foreign shores and graced the stage side by side with their Filipino counterparts.
For most ballerinas, dancing one lead role in a full-length production is a major career milestone. But to dance two lead roles in one production is truly an achievement of a lifetime.
In this clip are excerpts from Carmen, Swan Lake and Don Quixote showcasing the male corps of Ballet Manila.
In this clip are excerpts of the best moments of the female corps in Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, and Giselle.
Sometimes, the only way to become a ballerina is to run the whole ballet.
“Doon tayo sa baba muna, dito sa umpisa tapos paangat nang paangat para maka-adapt ako.”
With many interpretations by various companies since its premiere in France in 1789, Ballet Manila came up with its own with no less than People’s Artist of Russia Sergey Vikulov as choreographer.
Wearing traditional Filipino dress, perched on her rocking chair with a book in her arms, she has gained iconic status for being a master storyteller.
“The artist that your student will become is the stuff that is his or her very own, refined by the tradition in which they are taught.”
Animals have long fascinated choreographers, motivating them to create ballets based on non-human movements.
The lessons were then shared on this website one at a time in a series, accompanied by photographs underscoring each nugget of wisdom. Here, we run the article in full to celebrate the ballerina’s birthday on October 3.
Danseur Elpidio Magat Jr. was perhaps in the worst place one could be when the first pandemic lockdown was announced in March 2020.
