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.
As Ballet Manila prepares for a new staging of Le Corsaire — a version choreographed by artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde — on February 24 and 25 at the Aliw Theater, we look back at the company’s first and latest performances of this beloved pirate adventure.
When Ballet Manila staged its first-ever Le Corsaire in 1998, it did so on a grand scale.
As the company prepares for a new staging choreographed by artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, BM takes a moment to look back and appreciate its unique history with a pirate story.
It will indeed be a hectic year for Ballet Manila as revealed in a media conference by artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, noting that the full slate of performances is a tribute to her late beloved dance partner, co-artistic director and friend Osias Barroso Jr. who passed away last December 16.
A mouseling who loves ballet has introduced millions of little girls all over the world to classical dance. Ballet Manila apprentice Shamira Drapete is no exception.
Former Louisiana state legislator and state treasurer Mary L. Landrieu penned a letter of gratitude and appreciation addressed to the company which was published in the program of their show held in Roussel Hall at Loyola University.
A damsel in distress who gets kidnapped twice is often the first thought when the ballet Le Corsaire is mentioned. The swashbuckling adventure of pirates and slaves, however, is rumored to have royal roots.
Eventually bagging the silver in AGP’s Junior B category in Hong Kong, this serious competitor was very pleased with the results, as it reflected how much work he put into improving his art, as well as combating the pressure he felt
Le Corsaire has a special place in the history of Ballet Manila. The company was the first to perform the full-length Russian classic in Southeast Asia in 1998.
While talented and determined to put in the hours, this ballet-loving teenager never expected to take home the prestigious award in December 2023.
Aside from Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s real-life story, also fascinating is his account of how her scholar Jessa Balote emerged from the slums to become a professional ballerina with BM.
Ballet is created on beautiful lines and shapes. If what you hear and what you see mesh, there's a very thrilling experience.
In this slideshow, Cinderella is revisited through over 80 photographs capturing the highlights of the fairytale romance, along with the hilarious moments with Cinderella’s stepfamily as well.
John Balagot is no stranger to dancing on stages outside the Philippines. Before
Ballet Manila had reason to celebrate in 2023, as it was the year the company was finally able to stage a full season again – live and in the theater – after a three-year drought caused by the pandemic and the loss of its performance venue and home, Aliw Theater, to a fire in 2019.
Just when Sean Pelegrin thought that his 2023 would return to the usual chill off-season days after doing guestings with dance schools, he gets a career-changing phone call from Ballet Manila’s co-artistic associate Gerardo Francisco Jr. one Thursday morning.
