Ballet Manila in full color: Yellow fever

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. 

In Martin Lawrance’s Rebel (2016), a ballet partly based on the People Power Revolution, yellow could be the only choice for dressing up the character of Corazon (Katherine Barkman). After all, it was the color associated with the opposition during the historic 1986 snap elections that led to the peaceful uprising. Also in this scene are Rudy De Dios as Ninoy and Michael Divinagracia as Jose. Photo by Ian Santos

Abigail Oliveiro dances as jubilantly as the color she’s wearing in this scene from Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, one of the tales in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2015). The lemon yellow outfit bears ethnic touches of gold and brown in the waistband and on the sleeves. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Rissa May Camaclang, Sofia Sangco-Peralta and the other ballerinas show grace and poise in yellow-orange tutus as they dance in Paquita, featured in BM 2.0 (2015). Photo by Kurt Alvarez

Rodrigo (Gerardo Francisco), the hardworking hero of Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin (from Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, 2018), radiates happiness and optimism in his trademark yellow-and-black-striped pants. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Sayaka Ishibashi wears a pale yellow confection in Giselle (2019) as one the village girls and a friend of Giselle. Photo by Erickson dela Cruz

Wearing a voluminous skirt of yellow tulle and pink lace, Nicole Barroso kicks things into high gear portraying one of the wicked stepsisters in Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

As the lead fisherman in his own choreography, Kinabuhing Mananagat (from Flight, 2017) looking for the day’s catch, Rudy De Dios goes for a yellow shirt. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Nicole Barroso in a yellow gown and Godwin Merano in a tuxedo are in the mood for dance in Iconic 1 (2018). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Joan Emery Sia as Micaela channels a range of emotions in her tri-color outfit, consisting of a yellow skirt, a white blouse and a brown apron in Carmen (2018). Yellow, known to symbolize jealousy, is aptly used here as Micaela’s love, Don Jose, is stolen from her by the temptress Carmen. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

As a royal guest in Swan Lake (2017), Nanami Hasegawa (left) is a luminous presence in her saffron frock. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag 

As Pinocchio in Osias Barroso’s Pinocchio (2015), Anselmo Dictado shows his sunshiny disposition in a bright ensemble that combines a yellow top and a yellow hat with a pair of red shorts. Photo by Ocs Alvarez