Photo by Mark Sumaylo • Text by Abigail Oliveiro

What: Mime

Mime is used in Classical Ballet to communicate the essence of the story without the need to speak. Through the careful use of gestures and facial expressions, dancers are able to convey ideas, actions and emotions to each other as a conversation and to the audience. Another element to mime is the music. Music and dance are united as one and much of the story can be heard through the music as it inspires choreography and stories. To dance and mime in time with the music enhances the storytelling of the ballet.

There is a traditional Mime that everyone in Ballet uses and the image here demonstrates three of them.

From left to right:

Sleep: overlap both hands and place it by your head as if to sleep

Death: two fists being crossed at the wrist

Love: crossing the hands over your heart

Dancer: Nanami Hasegawa, Company Artist

Location: Ballet Manila Studio 2