Classical and contemporary fare in Ballet Manila’s February ‘Dance Day Live!’
Principal dancers Romeo Peralta and Jasmine Pia Dames will reprise the lead roles they premiered in Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty in 2020. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
After the success of its first Dance Day Live! last January 30, Ballet Manila is gearing up for the second show of its planned monthly series.
This month’s show, combining a slate of classical and contemporary fare, will be streamed live on February 20, Sunday, 5 p.m., from Ballet Manila’s Studio 1 in Pasay through its social media platforms:
Facebook : https://fb.me/e/1AgUycIHd
Instagram : www.instagram.com/balletmanila
TikTok : www.tiktok.com/@lisamacujaschool
The program’s classical pieces highlights Ballet Manila’s junior dancers who have performed in the company’s productions and are now cast in spot numbers: Marinette Franco in the White Swan Variation from Konstantin Sergeyev’s Swan Lake, Noah Esplana in the Albrecht Variation from Giselle, and Anselmo Dictado, Alvin Dictado, Rodney Catubay and John Carl Concepcion in Marius Petipa’s Raymonda.
Principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo are performing Augustus “Bam” Damian III’s MAZN for the first time together. Photo by MarBi Photography
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde said Dance Day Live! is a chance to showcase talents who have been sidelined from performing because of the pandemic. “We’re trying to give the younger performers some featured dancing.”
She said participants in Sunday’s Dance Day Live! have been rehearsing thrice a week, usually after company class. “I think everyone is holding up well. We can’t wait to go onstage!”
Principal dancers Romeo Peralta and Jasmine Pia Dames pair up anew in the Grand Pas de Deux from Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty, as Aurora and her Prince, the lead roles they premiered in 2020. Sleeping Beauty was one of Ballet Manila’s last shows onstage before the pandemic caused lengthy lockdowns and put a stop to live performances.
For some, Dance Day Live! will also register first performances of Ballet Manila’s contemporary staples – principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo in Augustus “Bam” Damian III’s heart-thumping MAZN and Shaira Comeros and Joshua Enciso’s Agnes Locsin’s sensual Arachnida.
Soloist John Balagot will also debut as the villainous Lankadem in the Lankadem Variation from Joseph Maxilier’s Le Corsaire for the first time.
Meanwhile, real-life couple Jessica Pearl Dames and Sean Pelegrin will reprise the number choreographed on them, PJ Rebullida’s Blind Love. An exploration of love so all-consuming that makes one oblivious to a partner’s faults, it is danced by Pearl while blindfolded.
Finally, the cast will end the show with a Coda danced to the new jingle of Star City, heralding the amusement park’s much-awaited reopening on February 24 where Ballet Manila will be among the performers.
