Ballet Manila Moments: Bringing the pirate to the Philippines

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.

While classical ballet is at the heart of Ballet Manila’s dance tradition, one particular full-length piece holds a special place in the company’s 25-year history. Le Corsaire made its Philippine premiere in 1998 with Ballet Manila. Leading the charge were its then principal dancers Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso. It had sword fights, flower gardens, a bearded villain, and of course, a pirate ship – elements that made it attractive to an audience of youngsters and young-once. 

Ballet Manila first staged the full-length Le Corsaire in a joint performance with the Krasnoyarsk Ballet. Since 1998, the company has presented it seven times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2018), proving the enduring appeal of the pirate epic that involves swordplay, storms, shipwrecks – and a romance that blooms amid it all – all told through dance.

In the most recent staging of this swashbuckling ballet in 2018, Ballet Manila introduced two new Medoras – principal dancers Katherine Barkman (now with The Washington Ballet) and Abigail Oliveiro. It also marked the debut of then soloist (now principal dancer) Mark Sumaylo as Conrad. 

This clip features scenes from three shows of Le Corsaire – one in 1998 (with Osias Barroso and Pamela Asprer) and two in 2018 (with Katherine Barkman and Nicole Barroso as Gulnara, and with Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro).