Ballet Manila in Full Color: Brave and bold in brown

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.

In this special edition, as Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s Ibong Adarna makes its return to the stage on August 19 and 20 at Aliw Theater, we share photos from its various productions and pictorials as it put the spotlight on the color brown.

Reyna Valeryana (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) and Haring Fernando (Osias Barroso) rule over their kingdom in brown resplendence. Ethnic touches abound, from the tambo collars to the leg adornments. Two kinds of faux fur make up their respective skirts, with assorted beads and ornaments serving as neck pieces. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

The three brothers – Don Juan (Rudy De Dios), Don Pedro (Mark Sumaylo) and Don Diego (Romeo Peralta) – don brown costumes made up of different materials. Wood-like pieces are strung together for the basic form accented by a diamond shape of woven straw, much like a family crest, and additional elements to distinguish each character. Photo by Ocs Alvarez, 2017

The palace assistant (Gerardo Francisco Jr.) dons a range of browns – a dark tone for his inner outfit, a slightly lighter one for his belt and taupe for his bottom wrap, complemented by accessories in these varying shades. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

Festivities at the palace call for the presentation of each of the three princes before the queen and king (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Neil John Mag-aso). Here, Don Pedro (Mark Sumaylo, center) leads his men in an energetic number that reflects bravery and boldness, done in costumes that fittingly highlight their fine forms. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

They recall the merry men of Sherwood Forest in Robin Hood, but instead of green, the hunters of Ibong Adarna are in brown – from sleeveless tops to cut-off pants, from neckpieces to sashes tied neatly around their waists. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

A group of monkeys in dark brown get into a frenzy over a huge bunch of bananas. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

The queen of the Amazonas (Rissa May Camaclang, second from left) leads her group in welcoming back one of their own (Sayaka Ishibashi) as she recounts being accosted in the forest and then rescued by Prince Diego. The leader wears an ensemble of faux fur while her warrior women are in dark brown cloth with dangling fur accents for the bottoms. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

The golden plumes of the Adarna (Abigail Oliveiro) stand out amid the brown outfits of the brothers Don Diego (Romeo Peralta Jr.), Don Pedro (Elpidio Magat Jr.) and Don Juan (Anselmo Dictado). Don Juan has captured the elusive bird whose voice is thought to be a cure for their father’s illness, much to the dismay of the two of the older brothers who had hoped to do the same. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag, 2019

One of the highlights of Ibong Adarna is the fight scene of the brothers, applauded for its fast and furious pace. In this promotional photo for what would have been the show’s national tour, the scene may be frozen but it still evokes the action of the choreography. The trio of Don Diego, Don Pedro and Don Juan (Romeo Peralta Jr., Elpidio Magat Jr. and Anselmo Dictado) paint a dramatic portrait in their brown ensembles amid a black backdrop. Photo courtesy of Project Art and MarBi Photography, 2020

In another photo for the projected national tour which was waylaid by the pandemic, Don Juan (Joshua Enciso) takes a hold of the Adarna (Abigail Oliveiro). Brown rules the day for the prince, not only in what he’s wearing but also in the rope that he lassoes the mythical bird with. Photo courtesy of Project Art and MarBi Photography, 2020