At a time of immense uncertainty, Ballet Manila is sharing a message of hope through an achingly touching dance film that celebrates love while underscoring the immeasurable value of the arts.

Set to the quietly intense song, Walang Hanggang Paalam, the dance film was premiered on September 4 on Ballet Manila’s Facebook page.  Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde describes it as the official kick-off to the company’s 25th season which for the first time will be done virtually and is dubbed Silver Linings.

In the film’s introduction, Lisa muses, “Sa gitna ng pangamba, tuloy ang sayaw ng buhay...” (In the midst of fear, the dance of life continues...). It then leads to a montage of couples and individual dancers swaying, swirling and moving in tender cadence to the poignant lyrics that speak of a love so great even physical distance cannot put an end to it.

The sentiment of Walang Hanggang Paalam or a never-ending farewell, aptly enough, echoes the relationship of the dancers to their art. It is something they cannot live without and would always gravitate to, no matter what. 

Like many performing arts groups, Ballet Manila has been completely upended by the pandemic. It was a harsh blow that came as the company was just starting to recover from the fire that had gutted its performance venues late last year. With the imposition of quarantine in March and a ban on mass gatherings, shows that are its lifeblood could not go on. 

Away from the studio, the dancers languished in isolation. But soon enough, Ballet Manila would learn to adjust to a “new normal” that relied on technology to bring people together. Macuja-Elizalde and co-artistic director Osias Barroso were soon spearheading company classes online, thus ensuring that the dancers could continue to keep fit with the use of improvised barres and any suitable space at home. 

Walang Hanggang Paalam resulted from a desire to keep the dancers dancing, particularly now that Ballet Manila’s 25th season would already have been in full swing. “I really just wanted to be able to give some creative, actual dancing work to my dancers who were all functioning more as teachers and demonstrators and choreographers in the school under our new contracts. That was the goal!” Lisa recalls. “I also wanted to give Gerardo (Francisco) a chance to choreograph specifically for film. I knew that it needed to be different.”

Choreographer and principal dancer Gerardo “Geri” Francisco was already familiar with the anthemic Walang Hanggang Paalam, describing the Joey Ayala composition and song which he first heard many years before as “tagos sa puso” (heart-piercing). The version sung by Lea Salonga and Ice Seguerra at the recent Bayanihan Musikahan benefit show was chosen for the dance piece.

“The concept is to spread the love – not the virus – especially with what is happening now. ‘Yung flower na pinapasa-pasa, ‘yun ‘yung love,” notes Geri. (The flower that is being passed on from one person to another symbolizes love.) Once he was given the music, he made a rough draft of study movements that he then presented to the production team which included video director Jojit Lorenzo. 

The pandemic situation, however, put limitations to their work and it was only when the quarantine level was eased up that they could proceed. Once they had the go-signal to use the studio, Geri started rehearsing the dancers in batches to adhere to standards in social distancing. What also proved a challenge was that Geri was doing this while preparing for the online recital of the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet where he is the teacher of Modern Ballet. 

“Tapos nag-lockdown uli!” recalls Geri. (Then another lockdown was announced!) Fortunately, restrictions were eventually relaxed anew, allowing the team to resume putting together the dance film. 

In the black and white Walang Hanggang Paalam, Jojit Lorenzo has superimposed words that reinforce the theme of love and its many aspects as the featured artists dance. Jojit – who has previously photographed Ballet Manila’s season pictorials – filmed the main cast composed of principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo, and Joan Emery Sia and Elpidio Magat, also taking top shots that show the artists’ form in pas de deux from a different perspective. 

Geri, who also performs in the film, meanwhile shot the parts danced by the twins Jasmine Pia Dames (principal dancer) and Jessica Pearl Dames (soloist), principal dancer Romeo Peralta, and soloists Nicole Barroso, Rissa May Camaclang, John Ralp Balagot, Anselmo Dictado and Joshua Enciso.

“We wanted a positive and hopeful message,” stresses Lisa. “Despite the song being a bit sad, it remains very hopeful.”

Geri concurs that the intention behind Walang Hanggang Paalam is to inspire and uplift spirits. The aim, he adds, is “To give hope sa mga nanonood na nawawalan ng pag-asa. Na kahit papa’no, sa ginawa namin, mapagaan namin ang kalooban nila.” (To give hope to viewers who may be feeling hopeless. That somehow, through what we’ve created, we are able to lighten their feeling.)

Lisa says Ballet Manila will be unveiling other offerings as part of its 25th virtual season in the coming months, all in the spirit of their motto to keep on dancing. As she intones at the end of Walang Hanggang Paalam, “Ang sayaw ay pasasalamat. Ang sayaw ay pag-aaruga. Ang sayaw ay pag-asa.” (Dance is thanksgiving. Dance is caring. Dance is hope.”