Of soldiers and other uniformed personnel at the ballet

Dashing. Dapper. Debonair. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when talking about men in uniform. One might not instantly associate them with ballet where gracefulness and flexibility are characteristic traits, but a brisk cadence and sharp steps also have their place in dance. We take a look at how uniformed characters – including a platoon of female toy soldiers – have made their mark in Ballet Manila productions. 

Photos by Ocs Alvarez

Mark Sumaylo cuts a formidable figure as he leads his men in this scene from Eric V. Cruz’s Carmen, as restaged in 2018 in Ballet Manila’s Iconic 2.0 production. 

Clean lines and a snappy salute come from Eduardo Espejo, as the Soldier in Petrushka which Ballet Manila premiered in 1997. Based on the Russian tale using Stravinsky’s music, it is the story revolves on three puppets – Petrushka, the Clown who is in love with the Ballerina but who in turn prefers the Soldier. 

It’s girl power in the spotlight as this band of female toy soldiers prepare to engage in a fiery clash with the King Rat’s troops in The Nutcracker, with Masha witnessing the incredible event on Christmas Eve. 

Palace guards stand in a row as the Parrot Girls perform for the Rajah during his daughter Gamzatti’s betrothal to Solor in La Bayadere. 

Osias Barroso is Don Jose, the naïve soldier seduced by the gypsy Carmen (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) in Ballet Manila’s Carmen in 2003. Falling passionately in love, he goes mad when Carmen decides to move on to another man, leading Don Jose to ultimately kill her. 

Upon the plotting of Ahab, soldiers arrest and prepare to execute the hapless Rodrigo (Gerardo Francisco) whom the scheming businessman had exploited as an employee. The scene is from Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, one of the stories showcased in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang which premiered in 2008. 

Colonial soldiers capture revolutionary leader Gabriela Silang, eventually leading to her execution, in Osias Barroso’s Gabriela ng Vigan. The historical dance-drama premiered in 1996 at the Puerta Real Gardens in Intramuros.

The Soldier (Jeffrey Espejo) makes a majestic leap as his colleagues crouch in the foreground in Petrushka, a choreography of David Campos. 

Sentries stand at attention as the King holds court in Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa. One of the stories featured in Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang which premiered in 2013, it is about twelve princesses who secretly leave the palace to have a romantic tryst with their suitors. 

In the 2013 staging of La Bayadere, soldiers stand guard at the palace room where Gamzatti is shown a portrait of Solor and falls for him, not knowing that he has already pledged his love for Nikiya before the eternal flame.