It may have once seemed unthinkable to learn ballet online instead of in the studio where students can immerse in learning steps and movements under their teacher’s meticulous instruction and hands-on guidance. 

But with the COVID-19 situation — where various levels of community quarantine have confined people to their homes — learning institutions have had to rethink their approach to reach their students and also to stay afloat. 

The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet – the educational component of Ballet Manila – is no exception. Having completely missed out on its lucrative annual summer workshop that draws ballet enthusiasts of all ages, the school has had to shift gears and adjust to the “new normal” even if temporarily.

Thankfully, this has been made easier with the use of modern technology. In the age of computers, the internet and social media, offering ballet classes online has become possible although it is not without its challenges. Recently, after a trial run, The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet has started offering a full slate of classes that it used to hold in its two branches, in Donada, Pasay and in Fisher Mall, Quezon City, and even new courses.

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, school director and Ballet Manila artistic director, shares the story behind this new direction her school is pursuing. “It all started when, about three weeks into lockdown, I decided that in order to boost morale and keep the company in shape, I would start teaching company class via Zoom. Then I decided to make the company class open to other dancers outside of Ballet Manila who wanted to take class with the company. I was actually surprised to get about 12 dancers enrolled in company class right away. So I realized that the school could continue online.”

By then, Lisa had also been promoting ballet education even just on her own personal capacity through Ballet Minute. This series posted on her social media accounts, in which she shares useful tips on enhancing one’s skills in dance, received positive reactions and has served as a complement to the online classes. 

Aside from Lisa and BM co-artistic director Osias Barroso, the classes are being handled by a faculty composed of experienced current and former BM dancers – Eileen Lopez, Sofia Sangco-Peralta, Robert Peralta, Abigail Oliveiro, Joan Emery Sia and Gerardo Francisco.

“We have created a structure that works,” says Lisa of the online classes, who developed the protocol through trial and error. “We have a main teacher, a co-teacher and a demonstrator for all our classes online – except for company class where the company is already considered experienced and mature enough to be able to take class with just one teacher.”

All classes are being recorded except for company class. Classes have a weekly schedule under a three-week module Lisa and her team have formulated. She explains, “All students, once enrolled in their respective levels, are given the schedule and passwords to enter the classroom. We have a main teacher who basically gives the combinations, plays the music if able and gives corrections. The co-teacher is there to give corrections as sometimes, the main teacher cannot watch all the students on the screen all the time, and to take over at any point if the main teacher experiences technical difficulties. The demonstrator, who is usually a principal dancer or soloist of Ballet Manila, is there to basically take the class together with the students and demonstrate for everyone.”

Lisa acknowledges that it’s different to teach online and that they’re continuing to develop the school’s programs and learn from experience. “Basically, you need to be a lot more verbal. Directions have to be very clear. Demonstrations become secondary as verbal explanations become more important. One of the greatest challenges is training the kids to be musical. Because of the lag – sometimes, we cannot really know if the students are hearing the music at the same time as we are.”

Barring technical glitches, the upside of holding online classes is its potential for a wider reach. “The advantage at the moment is that the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet has students logging on from Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Doha and even the US. The reach of online classes is amazing! There is no traveling time to get to the studios, so I can teach our Fisher Mall students and Donada students all at the same time. We are able to give our students recorded copies of the classes that they can review and repeat at any time.” 

Lisa says one of their breakthroughs is being able to offer classes such as Creative Movement (3 to 5 years old) and Twinkle Toes (6 to 8 years old) under the Dance With Me program wherein the student can dance and learn together with a parent or an older sibling. “We even have fathers joining in and dancing with their daughters! It’s so much fun to teach those classes. And to see these kids bonding with their parents and seeing both adults and kids getting a dance education and work-out!”

She adds that Floor Barre, a new offering, is a best-seller. This is a conditioning and fitness routine that supplements a student’s classical ballet class. It puts together elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga and is suitable for all ages and any skill level.

Students who sign up for Level 3 or the pre-professional class may opt to combine it with company class where they experience the same training that Ballet Manila dancers do.

Because of the encouraging enrollment, the school is limiting the number of students to just 12 to 14 per class in order to have everyone on one screen at a time. “I am also able to watch and supervise ALL the classes in the school online – a major advantage that keeps students and teachers on their toes,” says Lisa.

While going online was necessitated by the prevailing health situation, Lisa believes that they may still offer the virtual classes even when actual classes in the studio can resume one day. “It’s something that is certainly working for us at the moment. The feedback is mostly positive. And the enrollment figures support the feedback. We are able to survive as a company and school because of our online classes.”

For the line-up and schedule of online ballet classes, visit the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Facebook page. For inquiries, email school@balletmanila.com.ph or call 0918 807 7148.