After making it through the rigorous qualifying rounds at the Asian Grand Prix regionals in Manila last April, eight dancers of The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Manila are participating in the AGP International Ballet Competition finals to be held August 13 to 17 in Hong Kong.

“I’m very excited for the Asian Grand Prix 2018 Finals where we are welcoming the 240 elite dancers selected at regionals for the final competition,” enthused So Hon Wah, AGP chairman.

It was the first time for AGP to hold regional competitions in 10 major cities in the Asia-Pacific Region. Aside from Manila, qualifying rounds were also held in Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, Osaka, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Auckland.

“The AGP Regional Ballet Competition is the evolution of Asian Grand Prix,” described So.

Aside from providing greater access to promising talents, the regional competition served as an educational platform as classes were conducted by international ballet mentors in each venue.

The eight Ballet Manila dancers who will be participating in their respective categories with their corresponding competition pieces are:

· Elyssabeth Apilado – Junior B; Odalisque (Emboitee variation)

· Alvin Dictado – Senior; Grand Pas Classique

· Carl Daniel Doromal – Junior A; Franz (Coppelia)

· Loraine Gaile Jarlega – Pre-Competitive 3; Fairy Fleur de Farine (Sleeping Beauty)

· Kong Ke Xin – Senior; Gamzatti (La Bayadere)

· Rafael Perez – Senior; Basilio (Don Quixote)

· Brian Sevilla – Junior B; Franz (Coppelia)

· Sophia Tiangco – Gamzatti (La Bayadere)

Jarlega, who topped her category in the Manila regionals, won a scholarship to the AGP’s Ballet Intensive Program being held from August 6 to 11, prior to the competition.

Isabella Gabrielle Bellosillo, who ranked seventh in the Pre-Competitive 3 category in April, also received a scholarship and is attending the same program.

The two are among 142 young dancers from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand participating in AGP’s Ballet Intensive Program.

Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde is holding classes during the intensive program and will once again serve as a juror in the competition.

“We are honored to have international ballet experts flying in from all over the world to offer their services as tutors and jury members. As Asian Grand Prix perseveres, we wish to continue to educate and inspire young dancers all around the world,” So stated.