Ballet Manila Moments: A nineteen-year wait
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.
When Ballet Manila first presented Les Sylphides (also known as Chopiniana) in 2000, the company pulled out all stops in ensuring that it stayed true to the choreography. Artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde flew in her mentors, Tatiana Udalenkova and People’s Artist of Russia Serguei Vikulov to coach the company for the staging of Michael Fokine’s masterpiece.
Taking the lead roles were Elline Damian, Eduardo Espejo, Aileen Gallinera and Melanie Motus.
"Without the distractions of acting and story, Chopiniana is a technically demanding piece, especially on the corps, the young dancers excelling in their coordination, grace and expression. Despite its simplicity, Chopiniana filled this member of the audience with soft, warm, dreamy feelings, testifying to classical ballet’s power to move and uplift, a power attained by a company only with hard work, discipline and an absolute refusal to compromise exacting standards,” wrote Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David.
Despite the successful performance, it took 19 years before Ballet Manila decided to restage the piece.
“I think one of the reasons it has not been performed in a while is because the style that the ballet needs to be danced in is so specific, and it takes a lot of time to assimilate, especially in the corps de ballet,” explained Lisa.
In 2019, Lisa and co-artistic director Osias Barroso agreed that it was time to bring back the classical piece. Taking the lead were principal dancers Joan Emery Sia and Elpidio Magat with soloist Rissa May Camaclang and company artist Nanami Hasegawa in support.
This clip shows the two performances of Les Sylphides staged 19 years apart – a long but worthy wait for some stunning Ballet Manila moments.
