Ballet Manila scholars, LMSB students triumph at International Ballet Grand Prix
Displaying their Vaganova training, two Ballet Manila (BM) scholars and eight other students of the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet (LMSB) garnered awards and scholarships at the recently concluded International Ballet Grand Prix (IBGP).
Scholars John Stanley Alamer and Juan Angelo De Leon hold their trophies and certificates from the International Ballet Grand Prix, winning the Youth Grand Award and Senior Grand Award respectively. Photo from the Facebook page of John Stanley Alamer
John Stanley Alamer and Juan Angelo De Leon – scholars of BM’s Project Ballet Futures – romped off with the Ballet Senior Grand Award and Ballet Youth Grand Award, respectively, after already landing in first place in their individual categories, Ballet Senior 1 and Ballet Youth 3.
Daniel (Yi-Cheng) Cheng bagged the first place in Ballet Senior 2 while Joicetin (Yun Ting) Cheng got third place in the same category, with the latter also getting first place in Contemporary Senior 2.
The other LMSB students who also netted honors at the competition were: Jacinda Myrtle Gonzaga - 4th place, Ballet Senior 2; Nina Arabella Nuñez - 4th place, Ballet Youth 2, and 4th place, Contemporary Youth 2; Hannah Jewel Alam - 7th place, Ballet Youth 3; Bea Marie Elizabeth Panigbatan – 7th place, Ballet Youth 1; Louisa Micai De Guzman - 8th place, Ballet Junior 2; and Bianca Vega - 10th place, Ballet Youth 2.
“So proud of all of you! Congratulations!” Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, LMSB directress and BM artistic director, said on Facebook after the results were announced July 9. Macuja-Elizalde was in Jakarta then with BM guest artist Martin Lawrance conducting a workshop for Ballet Indonesia Foundation.
For IBGP, LMSB faculty members Eileen Lopez and Sofia Sangco-Peralta oversaw preparations and took charge of the ten students as they participated in the competition.
Teachers Eileen Lopez (left) and Sofia Sangco-Peralta (right) join their students representing the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet who competed – and won – in the recently concluded International Ballet Grand Prix: (front, from left) Jacinda Myrtle Gonzaga, Nina Arabella Nuñez, Bianca Vega, Louisa Micai De Guzman, Bea Marie Elizabeth Panigbatan, (back, from left) John Stanley Alamer, Juan Angelo De Leon, Daniel Cheng, Joicetin Cheng and Hannah Jewel Alam. Photo from the Facebook page of Joicetin Cheng
Some of LMSB’s finalists also went home with special awards.
Panigbatan, Alam, Alamer, Daniel Cheng and Gonzaga secured scholarships for the International Arts Festival 2023.
De Leon, Alamer and Daniel Cheng were given slots in the apprenticeship program of the Indonesia Dance Company.
Additionally, De Leon was given a scholarship for IBGP 2024.
Daniel Cheng wins first place in Ballet Senior 2 while Joicetin Cheng places first in Contemporary Senior and third in Ballet Senior 2. Photo from the Facebook page of Joicetin Cheng
Joicetin Cheng meanwhile received a 50 percent scholarship to the Senior International Summer School at The Place and The London Contemporary Dance School in 2024.
Starting in Singapore, IBGP is the first and only ballet competition with the support of its National Arts Council and Singapore Ballet. This year, aside from Singapore, IBGP staged editions of the competition in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. There will also be an Online edition in August.
The IBGP Competition includes both ballet and contemporary segments and is open to dancers of all nationalities and backgrounds. The Ballet category is for dancers ages 7 to 21 and the Contemporary category for dancers ages 11 to 21.
IBGP Philippines was staged at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on July 7 and 8.
Among LMSB’s IGBP finalists, the following will also be competing in the Asian Grand Prix to be held later this year: Louisa Micai De Guzman, Bea Maria Elizabeth Panigbatan, Jacinta Myrtle Gonzaga, Nina Arabella Nuñez, Juan Angelo De Leon and John Stanley Alamer.