Touted as the “most popular ballet roadshow ever,” Ballet & Ballads headed for Northern Luzon in July 1998 for a show at the Don Alipio Fernandez Astrodome in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

Ballet Manila had indeed found a winning combination in the series of shows co-presented by the Manila Broadcasting Company that offered ballet numbers, pop songs and a mix of both in the program. Working with MBC’s affiliate radio stations and the local government, Ballet Manila made sure that Pangasinan folk were in for a special treat.

The company performed Act 2 of the classic Swan Lake, which is not often performed beyond the traditional theaters in Metro Manila. In the lakeside scene, Prince Siegfried sees Odette for the first time and falls in love, not knowing that the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart has cast a spell that turns her into a Swan Queen by day. The couple dances amid swan maidens who are also under the magician’s spell, but the dawn soon approaches, leading to their separation.

Ballet Manila also presented its ever popular Arnis, choreographed by Ric Culalic, a tribute to martial arts and dance. Tony Fabella’s Original Pilipino Music Suite, meanwhile showcased vignettes of romance, happiness, hardships and success set to contemporary Filipino music. As the show was in keeping with the celebration of the Philippine Centennial that year, it was fittingly capped by a dance focusing on the evolution of the Filipino flag.

Ballet & Ballads in Dagupan had recording artist Renz Verano as guest performer, his hit songs expectedly clicking with the local audience.