It was a first for Ballet Manila to go on a performance tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with four scheduled shows at the Shaw Theatre in London and another four in the cities of Cork, Limerick, Derry and Dublin.

East Meets West featured a repertoire composed of the company’s international touring staples, with classical, neo-classical, modern, ethnic and even “pop” ballets comprising a diverse selection. 

It was also a showcase of the versatility of the Filipino classical dancer, one who can tackle the ballroom dancing piece Dulce just as easily as the romantic favorites Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote. Both male and female artists mirrored strength and grace, the former particularly in the formidable martial arts-inspired Arnis and the latter in Sotto Voce where the girls are on pointes from beginning to end.