Ballet Manila Moments: A fusion of Filipino culture and Russian technique
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.
The strict adherence to the Russian Vaganova method sets Ballet Manila apart from all the other dance companies in the Philippines. BM's founder and artistic director, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, honed her talent at the Leningrad Choreographic School where she graduated with distinction and went on to establish her own company. At BM, she successfully combined the strict Vaganova technique with the artistry and flair of her Filipino roots.
The Russian Tour in 1995 - her first with her own newly-formed Ballet Manila - was a successful homecoming. But her return in 2001 with a more mature company was a triumph. Lisa brought with her Filipino contemporary pieces that showcase her culture while exhibiting the technique and discipline of the Vaganova method.
This clip from the 2001 tour is an excerpt of Jojo Lucila’s Sari’t Bahag, a Filipino choreography based on a Philippine folk tradition performed by Filipino dancers trained in the Russian technique and dancing at the Maly Theater in Russia to an appreciative Russian audience. Truly, it was a blending of cultural roots that made up a memorable Ballet Manila moment!
