28-year throwback: Keepsakes from Ballet Manila’s two-night launch

Barely two months after banding together, twelve dancers led by principal artists Lisa Macuja and Osias Barroso, with Eric V. Cruz as artistic director, were ready for their formal launch as Ballet Manila. The two-night show – simply titled Ballet Manila Dances! – was held on February 17 and 18, 1995 at the Francisco Santiago Hall of PCI Bank Tower 1 in Makati.

As the company celebrates its 28th anniversary and begins its 25th performance season, we look back to its beginnings through these keepsakes painstakingly put together in a scrapbook that first year by Ballet Manila pioneer and now co-artistic associate Eileen Lopez. The scrapbook is now part of the Ballet Manila Archives collection.

The twelve pioneer dancers of Ballet Manila – led by principal artists Lisa Macuja and Osias Barroso (center pair in black) – pose for a group photo on the Francisco Santiago Hall stage shortly before opening night of their inaugural show.

Clippings from Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Bulletin announce the two-night debut of Ballet Manila

The streamer for Ballet Manila Dances! that was hung in front of PCI Bank Tower 1 featured the names of the twelve dancers.

A copy of the invitation for special guests, cut into two to show the front and inside content, and spruced up with cut-up vintage illustrations

Newspaper clippings: One shows Lisa Macuja’s column for Malaya where she muses about the challenges of starting a new company while the other is an announcement of Ballet Manila Dances!

Cover and portions cut from Ballet Manila’s first brochure shares information about the new company and its mission and about its artistic director, Eric V. Cruz.

Eileen Lopez asked her fellow dancers to write her messages on opening night. This one is from Lisa Macuja who refers to Ballet Manila’s launch as “the start of ‘something big.’” The ballerina signed the note with her name and a drawing of her trademark icon – a foot on pointe.

Photographs from Ballet Manila’s two-night premiere: Some of the dancers with parents and friends who came to watch, and in the dressing room

The night’s program – trimmed at the edges to fit the scrapbook page – shows the mainly classical nature of the repertoire. The exception was Osias Barroso’s In Quest, a neo-classical choreography which was having its world premiere.

This scrapbook page is one of several bearing photos of Ballet Manila’s celebration at the Macuja home after the second night of their inaugural performance. Note the stickers of dialogue and thought balloons.

Another photograph of the triumphant group (from left): Pamela Asprer, Aileen Gallinera, Lisa Macuja, Jeffrey Espejo, Sandralynn Huang, Osias Barroso, Eileen Lopez, Eduardo Espejo, Ianne Damian, Kristin Dabao and Chris Mohnani. Not in photo is Elline Damian.

Toast to two big nights. The group aptly celebrates at the place where it all began – the home of the Macujas, hosted by Lisa’s parents Cesar and Susan. Cheers, Ballet Manila!