Ballet Manila in full color: Shades of blue

Ballet Manila has showcased a rich palette of hues in its productions over the years. Now, the company’s true colors are revealed! Gathering photographs from the Ballet Manila Archives, we present the vibrant and the somber, the heavenly to the earthy, in a series of virtual exhibitions – one shade at a time.

Cinderella (Abigail Oliveiro) is thrilled beyond measure when her soot-covered clothes are magically transformed into a magnificent blue dress by Fairy Godmother in this scene from Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella, 2018. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

The Ballet Manila boys stand out in their flowy aqua tunics as they execute a flurry of movements in Bam Damian’s all-male choreography Aramica, performed in Deux, 2019. Photo by Ian Santos

It’s a dazzling under-the-sea moment in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, one of the stories forming the trilogy, Severino Reyes’ Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, 2015. King Urano (Arnulfo Andrade) and Marya Trining, Queen of the Sharks (Joan Emery Sia), rule the kingdom wearing finery befitting their water world. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Ali (Gerardo Francisco) is the faithful servant to the pirate Conrad in Le Corsaire, 2015. The Ali Variation is among the most well-known in classical ballet, often chosen as a competition piece, with the character clad in his trademark teal blue harem pants. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Sapphire and silver are an appealing mix in Jessa Balote’s tutu as she dances as one of the Jewel Fairies in The Swan, The Fairy and The Princess, 2016. Photo by Kurt Alvarez

Juan Angelo De Leon achieves lift-off in the Blue Bird Variation from The Sleeping Beauty – in a blue costume, but of course! After performing the variation in Tuloy ang Sayaw-an, a ballet fundraiser in July 2019 (above), Angelo danced it as a competition piece at the Asian Grand Prix in Hong Kong the following month and soared to a bronze finish. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz

Living up to their name, Imelda’s Blue Ladies wear variants of the color in Martin Lawrance’s Spartacus-People Power mash-up, Rebel. The full-length production was first staged in 2016, the 30th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, with costumes designed by the late urban fashion designer Jeffrey Rogador. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Prince Charming (Mark Sumaylo) welcomes his guests at the ball in a plush navy blue top with gold trimmings in Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella, 2016. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Giselle (Joan Emery Sia) wears a dainty white dress with eye-catching accents in delicate blue in Act 1 of Giselle, 2019. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz

Elpidio Magat is garbed in royal blue while his fair-feathered friends are in complementing bluegreen in Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon, one of the tales in Severino Reyes’ Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, 2015. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Wearing complementing outfits in marine hues, Joshua Enciso and Nicole Barroso power through the vigorous steps of Gerardo Francisco’s Fuga. The pair danced Fuga as a competition piece in the USA-IBC and in Ballet Manila’s Iconic (above), both in 2018. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

A powder blue tutu – with wings to match! – provides that whimsical touch when Abigail Oliveiro dances as the Blue Fairy in Osias Barroso’s Pinocchio, 2015. Photo by Ocs Alvarez