The year 2011 was a busy one for Ballet Manila. Even before its performance season started, the company was abuzz with preparations for its first foray in the United Kingdom and Ireland through an East Meets West tour, and the Philippine preview of those shows.

East Meets West was a major event for the 113th observance of Philippine Independence, with the Philippine Embassy in London and The International Society of London as presentors of the show’s UK leg.

“With an eclectic repertoire ranging from classical full-length ballets to original Filipino dance pieces, Ballet Manila is truly a showcase of the Filipino’s artistry and creative soul,” wrote Chargé d’Affaires Reynaldo A. Catapang in his notes for the East Meets West souvenir program.

It was indeed a diverse selection encompassing classical, neo-classical, modern, ethnic and even “pop” ballets. As artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde would point out, “The Filipino classical ballet dancer is a versatile performer, as proven by our ballroom dancing piece Dulce juxtaposed with the extreme classicism of Romeo and Juliet and the Don Quixote Pas de Deux – with everything else in between. The neo-classical piece Sotto Voce never ceases to astound me as the girls do not get down from pointes from the beginning to the end of the ballet. Reve and Arachnida, on the other hand, are prime examples of modern ballet.”

The repertoire also featured Ballet Manila’s international touring staples such as: Arnis, a dance choreographed by Ric Culalic inspired by the Filipino martial art of wielding wooden sticks; Reve, a choreography by Ernest Mandap which fuses the music of Metallica and classical ballet; and Sayao sa Pamlang, a choreography by Agnes Locsin that combines the movements of Pangalay (a dance that shows the beauty and gracefulness of the hands), Sagayan (a dance that drives away evil spirits), Kzudaratan (a dance inspired by a manner of walking), and Kuntao (a dance based on martial arts).