25 Life Lessons I Learned From Ballet - #18
Beyond the arabesques and grand jetés, ballet is an abundant source of priceless life lessons. With the rigorous training and intense discipline it requires, ballet can teach one how to deal with pressure, disappointments, challenges, and ultimately, success. On her 25th anniversary as a professional dancer in 2009, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde took the time to list down 25 key lessons she learned from ballet and which she felt both dancers and non-dancers can apply in their own lives. This series shares those enduring nuggets of wisdom – one lesson at a time.
The fish dive is a complicated partnering step essential in classical ballet. In this photo from Don Quixote in 2004, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso execute the difficult step with ease, making the movement appear effortless with a smile. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
By Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
18. Smile! Laugh! Have a sense of humor. Dancing has to look effortless. Most often, I smile in order to mask the effort. But it’s important to be able to smile – onstage or off – because yes, it’s a proper disguise to the effort and can be very convincing to you and everyone else.
Principal dancer Gerardo Francisco clearly enjoyed his role as the kind Rodrigo in Mahiwagang Biyulin. In this scene, his magical violin allows him to control the movements of the evil Ahab played by company artist John Ralp Balagot – making him dance non-stop until he agrees to pay the wages he owed Rodrigo. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
The camera caught this light-hearted moment between principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames and former soloist Tiffany Chiang-Janolo while on a break during the grueling technical dress rehearsals for Swan Lake (2017). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Top photo: Despite enduring arduous rehearsals for her 20th anniversary concert, Lisa@20, Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde still finds the energy for a generous smile while listening to final instructions from co-artistic director Osias Barroso before finally calling it a night.