The Ballet Manila Archives is the repository of documents, print, photographic, audio and video materials and memorabilia relating to the history of Ballet Manila and the life and career of its founder, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. This site is powered by Ms. Elizalde and Project Art, Inc.
Ballet Manila has showcased a rich palette of hues in its productions over the years. Now, the company’s true colors are revealed! Gathering photographs from the Ballet Manila Archives, we present the vibrant and the somber, the heavenly to the earthy, in a series of virtual exhibitions – one shade at a time.
Imelda (Abigail Oliveiro) sashays and shimmies in a navy blue frock even as political turmoil rages around her in Martin Lawrance’s Rebel (2016). The full-length ballet fuses the epic story of Spartacus and the contemporary Philippine event known as the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
They’re wearing different shades of blue – the Prince (Rudy De Dios) in a deep blue coat and Cinderella (Katherine Barkman) in a dreamy blue layered dress – but there’s nothing blue about their first encounter at the ball as they are obviously smitten with each other. The scene is from Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella (2016).
The Blue Fairy (Christine Rocas) adds a touch of enchantment to Pinocchio, adapted into ballet by Osias Barroso (2004). Wearing a blue tutu and holding her magic wand, she symbolizes love and kindness as she reminds the puppet Pinocchio to always be good. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
Solor (Maxim Chaschegorov) swears eternal love to temple dancer Nikiya (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) in La Bayadere (2006). But while his vow may be as clear and bright as his aquamarine wear, subsequent events prove otherwise as he is already engaged to Gamzatti. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
In the Pas D’Action from La Bayadere, the ballerinas wear powder blue tutus that exude a light and elegant feel. Featuring (from left) Nanami Hasegawa, Shaira Comeros, Jessica Pearl Dames and Kotomi Narai, it was performed in Deux (2019).
Blue wig and blue tutu add up to this Blue Fairy (Jessica Pearl Dames), one of the enchanted beings invited to the christening of Aurora in Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty (2020). Together with the other guest fairies, she must help counter the black magic soon to be unleashed by the uninvited Maleficent on the hapless baby princess. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Wearing trademark blue harem pants, the loyal servant Ali figures prominently in the pirate adventure, Le Corsaire. Here, guest artist Hyuma Kiyosawa gets to dance the famous Ali Variation in Deux (2019), the production that capped Ballet Manila’s 23rd performance season. Photo by Ian Santos
