On their first tour since the Covid pandemic, Ballet Manila mounted a successful return to Baguio City with The Silver Gala at CAP John Hay Theater. Artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, with co-artistic associate Gerardo Francisco Jr., brought the entire company to perform a mixed repertoire of classical and contemporary pieces, highlighting BM’s achievements in technique, artistry and choreography.

The evening’s highlight was the performance of Macuja-Elizalde’s La Traviata, inspired by Verdi’s opera, led by principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo. Included in the program were excerpts of Don Quixote performed by principal dancers Shaira Comeros and Joshua Enciso, Augustus “Bam” Damian III’s El Adwa by principal dancers Jasmine Pia Dames and Romeo Peralta Jr., and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas from Martin Lawrance’s Romeo & Juliet performed by principal dancer Jessica Pearl Dames and company artist Noah Esplana.

BM was also joined on stage by the City of Pines’ very own Ballet Baguio, the school — led by artistic director Jacqueline Go-Ramon — which celebrated its 20th anniversary last July. Together with the company, they performed Osias Barroso’s Ecole, and Go-Ramon’s 21 Guns with company artist Sean Pelegrin in the lead. And as a special treat, they brought back their popular performance danced to the OPM hit Raining In Manila which was well-appreciated by the local crowd.

This video features a slideshow of photographs featuring the highlights of Ballet Manila’s triumphant return to Baguio.