Ballet Manila in Full Color: Beige turners

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.

Their relationship seems to be off to a good start as Paris (Mark Sumaylo), suave in his stylish beige regalia, is introduced to the innocent Juliet (Abigail Oliveiro) who is in a complementing cream dress in Paul Vasterling's Romeo and Juliet (2015). They are about to be betrothed to each other, but things go awry when Juliet suddenly meets and falls in love with Romeo. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Choreographer David Campos created For Lisa, a contemplative piece for and about Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde which premiered in Two! (2014). In a simple and spare beige costume designed by Irene Sabas, the prima ballerina performs the special solo that for Campos underscored a continuing celebration... “within herself and out, but always with the flowing spirit of that little girl who has always loved to dance.” Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Marian Faustino, Jerome Espejo and Mylene Aggabao are three of a kind in Swan Lake (2005) as they dance the Pas de Trois wearing matching outfits in beige. The muted tone uncharacteristically makes them stand out amid the sea of orange behind them. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Mikhail Martinyuk and Dawna Reign Mangahas make a perfect pair as Prince Desiré and Princess Aurora in The Swan, the Fairy and the Princess (2016). Dancing as the leads in excerpts of The Sleeping Beauty in the all-Tchaikovsky production, the couple wears coordinated finery in neutral beige. Photo by Kurt Alvarez

The scene in Paul Vasterling's Romeo and Juliet (2015) happens in a marketplace in Verona. Gerardo Francisco Jr. as Mercutio is light on his feet, wearing an equally light color. He is about to join friends Benvolio and Romeo as the latter professes his love for Rosalind. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

There couldn't have been a more appropriate title to this piece than Magsayawan, part of the Gerardo Francisco Jr.-choreographed Maynila ni Juan which had its world premiere in Halo Halo ni Juan (2010). This part of the suite shows dancers as they swirl and twirl in skirts of sheer beige fabric, men and women alike, with glittery accents on the waist and hemline. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

In Martin Lawrance's Rebel (2016), Benigno (Rudy De Dios) is torn between his love for Corazon and for his country represented here by Inang Bayan (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) and Juan Dela Cruz (Michael Divinagracia). In a beige suite that belies the turmoil of emotions, he contemplates his return to the motherland which would mean breaking Corazon's heart. Photo by Ian Santos