'Don Quixote' revisited — Ballet Manila Archives

May 30

May 30 'Don Quixote' revisited

Returning to its classical roots, Ballet Manila successfully mounted Don Quixote at the Aliw Theater last May 28 and 29. Restaged by artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde with co-artistic associates Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Eileen Lopez, the production saw the return of principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames in the role of Kitri opposite San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Esteban Hernandez who debuted his full-length Basilio.

Despite the challenges of the new normal and a leaner company, the artists of Ballet Manila rose to the occasion. Drawing on the signature Vaganova technique that BM is known for, the dancers delivered a memorable performance that also displayed their strength, with several of them doing double or even triple roles.

This clip is a slideshow of photographs featuring highlights of the beloved ballet classic that is synonymous with technically difficult but high-spirited dancing. As Macuja-Elizalde describes it, “It’s sharp, quick, very light, fast, fiery... happy!”

Photos by Giselle P. Kasilag

Latest Article

Featured

Talk About Dance

Talk About Dance: Gelsey Kirkland

Talk About Dance

The dance goes on forever. So shall I. So shall we.

Talk About Dance

Interviews

Mitch Valdes rocks a new Lola Basyang in Ballet Manila trilogy

Interviews

Veteran singer-actress-comedienne Mitch Valdes was in a quandary before receiving Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s offer to essay the iconic role of Lola Basyang in the company’s restaging of its beloved Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang trilogy.

Interviews

Features

Maternal instinct

Features

To mark Mother’s Day, we take a quick look at these figures whose maternal instinct – or lack of it – contribute to making each story interesting.

Features

Interviews

Soloist Jessa Balote wants son Prince to know life is beautiful despite challenges

Interviews

She identifies motherhood as the main reason she refused to give up on her ballet dream.

Interviews

Author Christine Bellen-Ang on finding Lola Basyang's voice and why adaptations of the grandmother's stories matter

Interviews

Six of those stories have since been transformed into dance pieces through Ballet Manila's Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2008) and Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2013), with the first trilogy returning to the stage this month as the company's second offering for its 26th performance season dubbed "Ballet Masterpieces".

Interviews

Talk About Dance

Talk About Dance: Judith Jamison

Talk About Dance

Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There’s a light inside of you.

Talk About Dance

Interviews

After many detours, Portuguese ballerina Margarida Colaco finds a place in Ballet Manila

Interviews

Knowing that Ballet Manila is also interested in her progress, Margarida is determined more than ever to strengthen her technique in the Vaganova way and at the same time learn the contemporary pieces of the company.

Interviews

Features

Floral fest

Features

To celebrate May, the month of flowers, we once again pluck images from the Ballet Manila Archives featuring an assortment of blooms in the company’s shows. Enjoy this year’s lovely bouquet!

Features

Ballet Manila’s dance adaptation of literary classic ‘Florante at Laura’ in the works

Features

Further boosting its reputation as the home of Filipino literary classics, Ballet Manila will premiere its dance adaptation of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar’s masterpiece Florante at Laura in October.

Features

Videos

Under Construction: Tony Fabella’s ‘Dancing To Verdi’

Videos

Tony Fabella’s Dancing to Verdi will be seen tonight, April 27, at the Ballet Dance Gala, showcasing a new generation of Ballet Manila artists and the choreographer’s gift for highlighting the dancers’ artistry and technique.

Videos