Ballet Manila dancers share the thrill of performing “live” again
Dancing the Don Quixote Grand Pas de Deux for the first time, Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo are Ballet Manila’s latest Kitri and Basilio.
It may have been “just” at the studio of Ballet Manila, but for the company’s ballerinas and danseurs – sidelined from the stage since the pandemic hit the Philippines in 2020 – being able to dance “live” again was exactly the boost they needed as performing artists.
Artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde says doing Dance Day Live! was so much fun that she is already looking forward to putting together the next one.
Last Sunday, January 30, Ballet Manila unveiled its first Dance Day Live! that was streamed through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The 30-minute program was broadcast from Ballet Manila’s Studio 1 in Pasay and drew viewers from all over the Philippines as well as places such as Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States.
While it may have been a strange experience not having an audience right in front of them, the dancers were one in saying that it felt just like being in the theater again. Some expressed having the same jitters as they did pre-pandemic, while waiting in the wings to perform.
“I’m not gonna lie. I was nervous but the last time I felt the same was BM’s last show on stage,” said Mark Sumaylo who, together with fellow principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro, danced the Don Quixote Grand Pas de Deux. The company’s last show was in March 2020 which was also its 24th season-ender, the twinbill Carmina Burana and La Traviata.
Jessa Balote (center), who danced in Isang Mundo, Isang Awit and Patuloy ang Pangarap, says it is such a blessing to be able to dance again.
“Nakaka-excite na kaba po,” was how soloist Jessica Pearl Dames described being part of Dance Day Live!, adding, “Feel ko show po siya talaga.” Together with twin sister Jasmine Pia Dames, Pearl danced Ernest Mandap’s Lune – a number they had often danced in Ballet & Ballads shows.
Both said they missed dancing the contemporary piece and were glad with the opportunity to do it again. “We love Lune so much. Na-surprise po kami when we rehearsed it last week lang, may muscle memory pa rin po,” principal dancer Pia said, declaring how “super happy” she was to perform live again.
Principal dancer Elpidio Magat Jr. shared practically the same sentiment. “Happy kami –finally! Kahit pa’no!”
“My nerves during the show was bouncing around but it felt good and familiar. We need more performances for me to get used to it again and I just want to keep improving!” enthused principal dancer Joan Emery Sia who was featured in two of the numbers in the program’s OPM Trio.
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde had previously said mounting Dance Day Live! – which is being eyed as a monthly event – was as much intended for their audiences as it was for the dancers. She pointed out it would be a chance for them to gain back the stamina, confidence and skills long curtailed by pandemic restrictions since most of them have been dancing at home with limited studio time.
The last time Pearl and Pia Dames danced Ernest Mandap’s Lune was about three years ago, yet when they rehearsed recently, they were surprised they still had muscle memory of the piece.
“We want to keep up the spirits of our professional dancers in the company. We don’t have a theater. But we have our outdoor studio to broadcast from and we’re taking advantage of this fact since our artists are starving for live performances,” she said.
Dance Day Live! indeed proved to be a huge morale booster. “Grabe, iba ‘yung energy and camaraderie! It felt so good. Hopefully, more to come. Gigil na ako!” Joan gushed.
“Ang saya na nagkita-kita sa performance kahit sa studio lang,” said soloist John Balagot, who is rehearsing Lankadem from Le Corsaire for a possible Dance Day Live! performance.
Brian Sevilla shares that rehearsing and performing Prince Siegfried’s Variation from Swan Lake gave him “nostalgic feels.”
Artistic associate Eileen Lopez also noticed how Dance Day Live! energized everyone. “Spirits were really high. It has been a long time since they actually performed so even if it's through IG, FB, and Tiktok, super excited lahat.”
Principal dancer Abigail “Abi” Oliveiro recalled what the atmosphere was like. “Everyone was so on! The energy was high and in sync! We were all screaming after the cameras went off!”
The ballerina remarked how everything just seemed to fall into place even in the group coda which, she shared, she didn’t quite expect. “Mark and I never danced with the group because we had teaching schedules so we were always late for the group rehearsals. Everyone would be done then we’d start. Last Sunday was like keeping my eyes open for traffic. (But in the end) I felt it was very rehearsed.”
In performing as Kitri for the first time in the Don Quixote Grand Pas de Deux, Abi exclaimed, “I swear something came over me! Like it was just yesterday we performed.”
For company artist Brian Sevilla, getting to rehearse again brought him “nostalgic feels.” He performed Prince Siegfried’s Variation from Act 3 of Swan Lake, the same piece that earned him first place in the 2017 Cultural Center of the Philippines Ballet Competition.
“Na-miss ko po ‘yung kaba before the dance but most especially na-miss ko ‘yung mga kasama ko. Iba po talaga ang feeling pag live; no words can express it. I'm just so grateful na makasayaw ulit,” said Brian.
Smiling behind their masks: Artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (seated, center) and artistic associates Gerardo Francisco Jr. (standing, leftmost) and Eileen Lopez (standing, rightmost) with the cast of Ballet Manila’s first Dance Day Live! – (seated, from left) Elpidio Magat Jr., Joan Emery Sia, Mark Sumaylo, Abigail Oliveiro, Jessa Balote, Jasmine Pia Dames, Jessica Pearl Dames, John Balagot, (standing, from left) Jamil Montibon, Rodney Catubay, Jefferson Balute, Joshua Enciso, John Carl Concepcion, Marinette Franco and Raymond Salcedo.
Company artist Jessa Balote, who started out as a scholar under Ballet Manila’s Project Ballet Futures program, is just as thankful for the opportunity to dance again. “Masaya po sa pakiramdam na muli mag-perform.”
Jessa and brother Jefferson were also included in the group that danced Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s contemporary choreography, Border, in last year’s Asian Grand Prix and which ended up winning the gold.
“Ang laki po na blessing sa amin na makasayaw ulit kahit pandemic kasi nandoon pa rin ang puso namin sa pagsasayaw,” said Jessa who was the focal point in two of the numbers in the OPM Trio, as a street vendor who dreams of becoming a ballerina which actually echoes her real-life story.
For Abi, the icing on the cake was getting to see her colleagues dance again. “I had never seen the show until last Sunday. I was in tears by Jessa and Joan’s dance!” she noted.
Artistic associate Gerardo Francisco Jr., who is also a principal dancer with Ballet Manila and its resident choreographer, remained behind the scenes for Dance Day Live! Taking charge of the camera for the company’s TikTok account, he watched as his OPM Trio – intended for Ballet Manila’s performances in Star City when it reopens – made its premiere. He said this dance suite, which explores the various ways love is expressed, will still grow and evolve.
With the company’s first Dance Day Live! hitting the right notes, everyone involved is already raring to do the next one.
“Meron pang kasunod ito,” Geri promises. “Kaya tuloy lang ang sayawan.”
Elpidio Magat Jr. and Joan Emery Sia perform to the popular pop song Ikaw at Ako, part of Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s OPM Trio for Dance Day Live!
