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.
In keeping with the festive tradition known as Flores de Mayo, we remember the moments when flowers appeared on the Ballet Manila stage – propelling the story along, underscoring key themes or simply livening up the scene, making each show bloom with limitless possibilities.
In this clip, the kind and hardworking Rodrigo is BM principal dancer Gerardo Francisco Jr. while the oppressive Ahab is played by soloist John Ralp Balagot. Here, we see Rodrigo toiling for months only to be paid a tiny fraction of what he should have earned.
As we celebrate International Dance Day, we pay tribute to every single dancer who went on stage and performed their part to the best of their abilities in Ballet Manila’s productions over the years. In this clip are excerpts from the company’s productions of Giselle, Swan Lake and Don Quixote featuring scenes that highlight the beauty of the ballet and the alchemists – all the dancers moving in harmony – who make the magic happen.
In the original Marius Petipa choreography, the scene known as The Dream showed Don Quixote in his shining armor fighting monsters, including a giant spider.
An ally to Ballet Manila since it debuted in 1995, the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) chose to feature the company in a cocktail musical called Artists & Friends on April 29, 2004 that celebrated the group’s 25th anniversary.
Discover the many roles of Anselmo Dictado, soloist of Ballet Manila.
Don Quixote has many exhilarating highlights. One ballet move that is most associated with it is the fish dive.
In this clip, BM ballet mistress Eileen Lopez partners with Harold Salgado as the old couple, with Anna Kateri Gelvoria, Zaira Cosico and Mylene Aggabao as the three sisters, and Alvin Santos as Pedro.
Realizing that ballet opened up so many opportunities for him, Alvin chose to continue his training, even when some studio days involved a lot of mistakes and shouting of corrections from mentors.
Marius Petipa’s Don Quixote (1869) represents the choreographer’s knowledge of Spanish dance and culture which he gleaned from three years spent in Spain.
The masked Roman soldiers, called Morions, would roam the streets to relate the story of the centurion Longinus who is said to have pierced the side of the crucified Jesus with a spear and was supposedly healed by the blood of Jesus.
Indeed, a well-nourished body and a determined mindset are keeping Eva light on her toes and ready for her roles.
“It’s just me who thinks that I can’t do it. So I’m stopping myself from exploring more.”
In this clip are principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames, soloist Jessa Balote, and former Ballet Manila dancers Tiffany Chiang-Janolo and Heewon Cho in the 2017 production of Swan Lake.
The feisty and spirited Kitri – a prized role for ballerinas the world over – is known in the novel as Quiteria.
Ballet Manila soloist Anselmo Dictado is one of those who can’t imagine himself doing anything aside from dancing; but since the COVID-19 pandemic happened, he was forced to take on other paths.
