This Month in BM History: October 1997
A year after their first foray to the United States, the 15-member Ballet Manila was back for another tour with stops this time in Washington DC, St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Detroit and Cleveland.
The New Orleans leg was special as it was a return engagement that local organizers – led by the Philippine Society for the Performing Arts, Loyola University and New Orleans Arts Council – were enthusiastic about.
The visit was made more thrilling as members of the New Orleans-based Loyola Ballet – a group formed in 1965 consisting of preparatory program participants and Loyola students and graduates – were cast in Ballet Manila’s production of Carmen.
“Our dancers have grown both culturally and as performers through this unique experience, and they have been particularly touched by the enthusiasm of ballerina and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde who has shared her love of dance with us,” wrote organizers in welcome remarks in the show’s souvenir program.
Apart from the fiery ballet adaptation of Carmen, with choreography by BM artistic director Eric V. Cruz, the two-night program in New Orleans also featured a selection of classical pieces (Diane and Acteon, Grande Pas Classique) and Filipino originals (Edna Vida’s Flux, Manuel Molina’s Romance and Tony Fabella’s Original Filipino Music Suite).