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.
They would have wanted it to be a surprise – a ballet production paying tribute to Ballet Manila’s first artistic director, Eric V. Cruz, to mark his 60th birthday.
Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.
This celebration of the body, a feast before our souls, offers light and joy.
What is also special about this Don Quixote is that it brings together Lisa, Renata and Kimin who share ballet bonds that run deep.
Asked what her situation was like during the pandemic, Sam says she found herself craving to dance even more.
It was the first time for both to tackle the lead classical roles as professional dancers so they were eager to take on the joint assignment.
Let the moon teach you the art of being beautiful and lonely at the same time.
Having grown up with three brothers who trained and performed with Steps Dance Studio, it didn’t take long before Reign developed an interest in ballet herself.
The delegation to Singapore was headed by LMSB assistant director and faculty member Sofia Sangco-Peralta and Ballet Manila guest choreographer Martin Lawrance.
At the ballet classic’s end – when the swan corps waves to a reunited Odette and Prince Siegfried in the afterlife – the crowd would break into wild applause and animated cheers as the stage grew dark and the curtains closed.
Ballet Manila has always aspired to bridge artists and audiences from different cultures through the universal language of dance.
Company artists Rodney Catubay and Jos David Andes were promoted to soloists while apprentices Shamira Drapete and Ainslea Esplana were named company artists.
In this clip, we return to 2017 when Abi and Mark debuted as Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried in their first full-length performance of Swan Lake.
All three dancers that the two institutions fielded to the competition – company artist Jos David Andes, apprentice Germaine Dawal and scholar John Sixto Dones – all earned medals and scholarships.
Swan Lake holds a special place in the hearts of Ballet Manila principal dancers Jessica Pearl Dames and Jasmine Pia Dames.
“It’s important to remember that the Siegfried I’m performing is my own.”
Principal ballerina Shaira Comeros never pictured herself as a Swan Queen.
