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 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.
We aimed high and went on a hunt for ballets that feature bows – and surprisingly hit our mark!
Among the new faces to play the story’s evil sorcerer Von Rothbart are soloist John Ralp Balagot and company artist Rodney Catubay.
Follow your passion. Find that something that makes you want to work at it. Work hard. Nothing comes without hard work.
“The audience was so enthralled by the 21-member troupe’s stirring performance of pure energy.”
“It’s part of being professional. It’s the training. It’s the respect.”
Almost marking a decade since he first started in Project Ballet Futures, Sixto knows that more challenges will come, but he’s sure about staying in ballet and working hard at getting better.
I’m trying to make the perfect dance, that’s what drives me.
On June 1, 2013, Ballet Manila presented a special production – a gathering of Filipino ballet stars working with various companies around the world.
Asked what she missed exactly about Ballet Manila, this artist points at the very mission of the company: to bring ballet to the people.
