Ballet Manila in Full Color: Pink perfection

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.

Princess Aurora (Jasmine Pia Dames) is turning sixteen, and a big celebration awaits her at the palace on this special day. In this scene from Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty (2020), she makes a grand entrance in her pink frock, delight mirrored in her face as she awaits the festivities to unfold – not knowing that a spiteful being would soon cast a curse on her. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz

In what is known as the Naila Waltz in Le Corsaire (2000), Medora (Lisa Macuja Elizalde) and a host of girls are the picture of pink perfection as they dance with flowers and garlands. In this scene from the pirate adventure, the Pasha is dreaming of the women in his harem being in a beautiful garden. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Nanami Hasegawa (left) and Francesca Raypon, partnered by Rafael Perez and Benedict Sabularse respectively, are among the ballerinas representing pink pearls in Pearls. The choreographic collaboration of Lisa Macuja Elizalde and Martin Lawrance likens the formation of differently colored pearls to the growth of ballet dancers through a long and time-consuming process. Pearls premiered in Ballet Manila’s 30th anniversary season-opener, The Pearl Gala (2025). Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto

It's Christmas Eve and Drosselmeyer has a whole program lined up to entertain the kids in The Nutcracker (2003). The performers include a Fairy Doll (Sofia Sangco-Peralta) who, dressed up in a lovely pink tutu, regales everyone with her exquisite dance. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Conrad (Mark Sumaylo) and Medora (Abigail Oliveiro) spend some quiet time together in Le Corsaire (2018). After he rescues her and other women from slave trader Lankadem and a clash with fellow pirate Birbanto, the pair is simply enjoying each other’s company with Medora giddily dancing in her pink dress. Photo by Ian Santos

Sweet and charming in a pink tutu, The Sugar Plum Fairy (Jessica Pearl Dames) reigns supreme in the Land of Sweets, the fabled place where Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are treated to a visual spectacle of dances representing international goodies. The scene is from The Nutcracker: Clara’s Journey (2023). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Mother Simone wants to marry her off to a wealthy man’s son, but Lise (Melanie Motus) has already chosen Colas (Jeffrey Espejo) as her partner in La Fille Mal Gardee (2000). The pair have escaped for the day, with Lise twirling the time away in her lacy pink dress. Photo by Ocs Alvarez