Shakespeare Day, dedicated to the great poet and playwright William Shakespeare, is celebrated every April 23 in England. In Stratford-upon-Avon where he was born, church bells ring out and the town mayor leads a procession that includes bands and costumed actors makes its way to the Bard’s grave where flowers are offered. Theater companies stage Shakespearean productions for people to watch, schools devote special activities inspired by his plays and fans set sessions to read and discuss his works.

April 23 is the date of Shakespeare’s death in 1616, but it has also been pegged as the date of his birth in the absence of an actual birth record; a document indicates his baptism on April 26, 1564. It is perhaps no coincidence that UNESCO, in 1995, designated April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Indeed, Shakespeare’s prolific output continues to be published globally, with many titles required readings in schools. Works such as Hamlet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear and Othello, to name just a few, continue to be enjoyed not just as books but as plays and films.

In dance, Shakespeare’s most interpreted work is Romeo and Juliet. Beginning life as a play, the tragedy is thought to have been written in 1594-96 and was first published in 1597. The tale of the two youngsters who fall in love despite belonging to feuding families – the Montagues and the Capulets – has proven to be irresistible, with ballet companies and choreographers the world over creating their adaptations through the years.

Ballet Manila has staged its fair share of Romeo and Juliet productions and in this feature – to observe both Shakespeare Day and World Book and Copyright Day – we present clips of the pas de deux in three versions it has performed, as choreographed by Sergey Vikulov, Paul Vasterling and Martin Lawrance.

Sergey Vikulov’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

People’s Artist of Russia Sergey Vikulov’s 20-minute choreographic miniature revolves on four central characters symbolizing Love (Romeo and Juliet), Friendship (Mercutio) and Evil (Tybalt). Romeo and Juliet made its Philippine premiere in Ballet Manila’s first anniversary show, An Anniversary of Russian-Filipino Rarities, in 1996. Osias Barroso Jr. and Lisa Macuja Elizalde took on the title roles of the star-crossed lovers.

Paul Vasterling’s Romeo & Juliet

Nashville Ballet artistic director Paul Vasterling channels modern influences of The West Side Story and Franco Zeffirelli’s movie adaptation of Romeo & Juliet to infuse new elements to the classical ballet. First performed by his company in 2004, its Asian premiere was mounted in 2015 by Ballet Manila as part of its “From Page to Stage” season. Abigail Oliveiro was the innocent Juliet to Brian Williamson’s smitten Romeo.  

Martin Lawrance’s Romeo & Juliet

British choreographer Martin Lawrance injects a twist to the classic by making present-day urban Manila as the setting and weaving the current digital landscape and music from Prokofiev to OPM hits with contemporary movement. Romeo & Juliet premiered in 2023, opening Ballet Manila’s 25th performance season. Joshua Enciso and Jessica Pearl Dames starred in the lead parts, in a story that takes them from a barangay fiesta to a hospital.