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 of the most prolific choreographers in the country, Tony Fabella had been collaborating with Ballet Manila since the company’s inception. Many of his pieces are infused with elements of Philippines traditions, creating short ballets that use classical techniques but with a distinctly Filipino flavor.

The Original Pilipino Music Suite is one such example. Folk, modern and classical ballet movements are fused seamlessly while set to popular Filipino music such as VST & Company’s Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko, Freddie Aguilar’s Dalagang Pilipina, Basil Valdez’s Nais Ko and Iduyan Mo, Yoyoy Villame’s Buchikik, and Smokey Mountain’s Sabihin Mo (Ikaw Ay Pilipino) — songs never before associated with the very strict European art form. 

Decades later, this piece is still being performed by the new generation of BM dancers, introducing millennial audiences to cherished OPM classics. 

In this clip is a trip down memory lane with a performance of Original Pilipino Music Suite from 1998 at the GSIS Theater, featuring principal dancers Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso.