By Susan A. De Guzman

Ballet Manila emerges from a nearly three-year drought of live performances on stage with a grand comeback that also marks a sentimental return to their restored home, Aliw Theater.

Rise! — which artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde points to as a fresh start for Ballet Manila after pandemic hurdles and the fire that damaged Aliw in 2019 — will be staged on October 7,  Friday, 8 p.m., and October 9, Sunday, 5 p.m. 

A double bill, Rise! will see the company in the latest version of its signature series, Ballet & Ballads, with pop belter Bituin Escalante as featured singer, and in the restaging of Macuja-Elizalde’s La Traviata where the dancers will perform to live singing by classical artists Jade Riccio, Ivan Nery, Chris Arceo and a 12-voice ensemble. As if that isn’t enough, Rise will also highlight a 60-piece orchestra playing under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga.

Rise! is certainly no ordinary show, and Macuja-Elizalde was quite excited as she shared the special elements it brings together during a media conference last September 27 — held on the stage of Aliw Theater itself. 

While people may wonder if Rise is a ballet or an opera or a pop concert, the prima ballerina definitively says: “It is all of the above... and so much more: It is the start of a new era for Ballet Manila!” 

In introducing the numbers presented that day, she had a heartfelt message for the dancers: “You drive my dreams and you make them come true.” Knowing fully well how painful it has been for the dancers to be away from the stage, she said she was thrilled to be able to give them the opportunity now to do what they love best again through Rise! and other forthcoming performances. 

A tearful Abigail Oliveiro, principal dancer, admitted during the open forum how she and her colleagues have cried as pandemic lockdowns closed theaters and halted live performances. “We are just happy to be coming home, to return to the stage so we can dance before an audience. We just have to dance!”

The La Traviata excerpt that day featured Oliveiro as Violetta, her real-life partner and fellow principal dancer Mark Sumaylo as Alfredo and soloist Joshua Enciso as the baron who comes between them, with principal dancers Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Jasmine Pia Dames and other BM dancers also joining in. Jade Riccio sang an aria. 

For the first time, La Traviata is being performed as it was originally intended to be performed — with live music and singing to underscore the dancing. When it premiered in 2020 in a different theater, that plan was scrapped as BM was still grappling with the aftermath of the devastating fire that had hit the Star City complex. The piece instead was danced to recorded music. 

For Jade Riccio, Rise will be emotional not only because La Traviata is a dramatic opera but also because baritone Andrew Fernando — who had invited her to be part of what would have been BM’s original Traviata and who would have been part of Rise! — suddenly died last August. 

“Violetta is my favorite role, my dream role. He helped make it possible. And I’m dedicating my performance to him. I want to honor him for his beautiful music and for being a beautiful person,” said Riccio.

Principal dancer Romeo Peralta led the group of four that performed Nais Ko, from Tony Fabella’s OPM Suite, a staple in Ballet Manila’s repertoire. Macuja related, “It brings me back to 1995 when we only had 12 dancers and Tony  Fabella choreographed it on the only four male dancers we had then — Osias Barroso, Chris Mohnani and the Espejo brothers Eduardo and Jeffrey.”

Ballet & Ballads in Rise! will also feature Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s Magsimula Ka, and two new works — Macuja-Elizalde’s Be My Lady and British choreographer Martin Lawrance’s Rise Up. 

At the media conference, Bituin Escalante delivered a heart-tugging rendition of Aawit Kang Muli, from the musical narrative series Still, which resonated with the artists present and moved Macuja-Elizalde to tears. 

Escalante shared how happy she was to be home on stage and, in performing in the Ballet & Ballads format with ballet dancers, described it as  “a great learning experience.”

Weathering the pandemic, the pop singer said it was a welcome development that live shows are steadily coming back. “We needed that human connection and relating to others, especially other performers.”

While Rise! is meant to be inspirational and uplifting, Escalante said it could also serve another worthy purpose: “Maybe this is the catharsis we need. Maybe we need a community cry.”

Picking up from the lyrics in Escalante’s song, Macuja-Elizalde expressed hope that things will only get better for performing artists — especially her beloved dancers — in the weeks and months ahead: “Aawit tayong muli. Sasayaw tayong muli.” (We will sing again. We will dance again.)

Tickets to Rise! are available exclusively via Ticketworld. Visit the website www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 8891-9999 for details. Use the promo code BalletManilaRise10 to get 10% off on published ticket prices.