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.
Ballet Manila celebrates a special milestone as a professional dance company with its performance season titled Ballet Manila @30.
“We’re only a month old, but what an exciting, fulfilling month it has been.”
“Looking back, yes, it took a lot of guts. We were the new ballet company going against two big ones."
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde described it as a “show to swoon to.” And rightly so, because the edition of Ballet Manila’s popular Ballet & Ballads series in February 2010 was none other than premier balladeer Basil Valdez.
“Before the competition, ayaw gumana ng double tour ko. Parang biglang nawala.”
As the Year of the Snake begins, we look back at Ballet Manila’s “hiss-tery” – those moments when serpents of differing sizes slithered their way on to the stage and into the spotlight.
Talent will only take you so far, and it is your ability to feel the music and explore a movement that will bring you the greatest pleasure in dance.
By this time, the company has already gone back to the studio for daily classes and rehearsals, with everyone eager for a coming milestone – the 30th performance season dubbed “The Pearl Year”.
We caught up with some of BM’s finest to ask where they went and what they did to refresh and recharge during their recent break.
After wrapping up a particularly packed last-quarter calendar in 2024, Ballet Manila took a well-deserved breather.
“One important thing I’ve learned in ballet is to keep working hard at your own pace.”
Among the newest faces in Ballet Manila is Benedict Sabularse, a Filipino dancer whose resumé includes a five-year stay with Pole National Supérieur de Danse of Marseille and a stint with the Hong Kong Ballet.
In the outdoor setting that was Liwasang Aurora, Ballet Manila treated the audience to a repertoire made up of classical pas de deux, a humorous piece danced to the novelty song Butsikik , and other Filipino choreographies.
As if making up for lost time because of the pandemic, Ballet Manila was in full-throttle mode in 2024.
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
In this clip, we look back to that moment when they performed Snow White before they were principal dancers.
