Winging it: When birds and ballet make the perfect pair

Birds and ballet go well together! Perhaps, there is just something about the movements of birds – the tilt of the head, the flapping of the wings, the grace of flying – that lend themselves well to being simulated through dance. In this special feature, we a look at some of Ballet Manila’s flights of fancy.

Abigail Oliveiro as the Ibong Adarna makes a majestic appearance with her multi-colored feathers framing her in this scene from Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s ballet adaptation of the Filipino literary classic. In Ibong Adarna (2024), the mythical winged being has already turned two princes into stone with her song, but their youngest brother is determined not to suffer the same fate. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

After the Hunter urges her to escape from the Evil Queen, Snow White (Akari Ida) finds herself in the forest. In Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Snow White (2019), the titular character subsequently meets all sorts of beings in the wild including a pair of friendly birds whom she happily dances with. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz

She moves every inch the swan, but Odette (Lisa Macuja Elizalde) is actually a princess under the spell of the wicked sorcerer Von Rothbart in the ballet classic Swan Lake (2011). Chancing upon her one night as she changes back to human form, Prince Siegfried is instantly captivated and falls in love. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon has been described as a reverse of the Swan Lake story. In the story featured in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2024), Prinsesa Singsing (Jasmine Pia Dames) falls in love with the Bird Prince (Romeo Peralta Jr.). After he saves her kingdom from attacking giants, she wishes she could be with him and she magically transforms into a bird like him and off they fly towards their happy ending. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

In Jean Paul Comelin’s Firebird (2000), three central figures weave together the story about a Shaman’s search for enlightenment. There is the titular character, the Firebird (Pamela Asprer, standing), who symbolizes the pursuit of an ideal. There is also Medusa (Elline Damian, right), the snake goddess who puts obstacles during the Shaman’s journey and the lotus divinity (Sandralynn Huang, left) whom he eventually falls for. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

The wings of the bird men in Ang Palasyo ng mga Duwende are aflutter in this scene from the ballet adaptation of a story by Severino Reyes, as showcased in Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2013). One living in their midst is actually a bewitched prince who heals the ailing father of a lost girl whom he later marries. Photo by Jojo Mamangun

In Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Cinderella (2023), the soot girl in the title role who is bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters finds comfort among the creatures of the forest. They include groups of birds who welcome her with excitement at every visit, with the gold-winged ones shown here portrayed by (from left) Elyssabeth Apilado, Angelika Tagupa and Eva Chatal. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag