Ballet Manila Moments: Unveiling Giselle

Since 1995, Ballet Manila has been creating unforgettable performances on stage. As the acclaimed storytellers on toes, they have breathed life to an amazing range of classical and contemporary fare. The Ballet Manila Archives celebrates some of those moments from the company’s first 25 years through this series.

One year ago, as Ballet Manila was preparing for the second offering of its 24th season, a fire broke out at the Star City amusement park and destroyed the complex including the company’s two theaters: Aliw and Star.

With the art community rallying behind BM, the company soldiered on though with a shortened program. Instead of three shows, Giselle was to be performed only once. Instead of the Aliw Theater, it was to be staged at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

The original three sets of casts suddenly became just one. Principal dancers Joan Emery Sia and Elpidio Magat took the lead roles and began Ballet Manila’s healing alongside its artistic directors Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso.

Despite the tragedy, a silver lining emerged during this very difficult period. A month after the fire, the Little Theater of the CCP was made available to BM. The three casts that was whittled down to one was now back to three.

Though marked by fire, BM’s Giselle of 2019 is also remembered by the dancers as the year when two Giselles and an Albrecht were introduced. Principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro and company artist Sayaka ishibashi were given the opportunity to perform as Giselle for the first time. Principal dancer Mark Sumaylo also debuted as Albrecht opposite Abigail while principal dancer Romeo Peralta partnered Sayaka.

Ballet Manila also introduced three new Myrthas: company artists Akari Ida, Marinette Franco, and Rissa May Camaclang (who is now a soloist).

This clip features excerpts from the emotional yet powerful October and November 2019 performances where BM, as a company, showed they could live up to their new motto to “rise like a phoenix.”