In an evening of diversity in dance, the American Stars Gala brought together some of the most noted names in ballet from the United States with the accomplished dancers of Ballet Manila. 

Boston Ballet principal dancers Lia Cirio and Junxiong Zhao, Houston Ballet principal dancers Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews, and Boston Ballet soloist Hannah Bettes performed in the Philippines for the first time in this one-night-only affair. 

The dance concert was also a homecoming performance for Ballet Manila’s USA International Ballet Competition contingent which included silver medalist Katherine Barkman with Joseph Phillips (non-competing partner), and Jury Encouragement Awardee Nicole Barroso with Joshua Enciso. 

The American Stars Gala was a fund-raiser for Project Ballet Futures - a ballet scholarship program for underprivileged youth.