San Francisco Ballet guest artists take centerstage in Ballet Manila’s ‘Swan Lake’
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde (leftmost) welcomes guest artists from the San Francisco Ballet – Esteban Hernandez, Katherine Barkman and Nathaniel Remez – to her art-advocacy program, Art 2 Art.
After eight years, Ballet Manila is bringing back the full-length Swan Lake to Aliw Theater, a much-awaited return made even more special with guest artists from the San Francisco Ballet taking centerstage.
San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Esteban Hernandez and first soloist Katherine Barkman perform the lead roles in Ballet Manila’s Swan Lake.
First soloist Katherine Barkman dances as Odette and Odile in the ballet classic, a formidable dual role she first took on with Ballet Manila in 2017 as a principal dancer with the company.
Principal dancer Esteban Hernandez partners Barkman as Siegfried, the prince who falls in love with the Odette – cursed by the sorcerer Rothbart into being a swan by day – but is seduced by the lookalike Odile into thinking she is Odette.
Barkman and Hernandez will headline Swan Lake on: May 30, 8 p.m.; May 31, Saturday, 5 p.m.; and June 1, Sunday, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Ballet soloist Nathaniel Remez meanwhile will debut as Prince Siegfried, with Ballet Manila principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro as his Odette/ Odile. The pair will be seen on: May 31, Saturday, 1 p.m. and June 1, Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ballet Manila principal dancer Mark Sumaylo makes his first appearance in Swan Lake as the villain Rothbart.
San Francisco Ballet soloist Nathaniel Remez is making his debut as Prince Siegfried in Ballet Manila’s Swan Lake.
Arriving a week before the Swan Lake performances, the three guest artists plunged headlong into rehearsals, working double time to gel with their counterparts in Ballet Manila. Coming in the thick of summer, they have had to adjust to the heat although it is not unfamiliar to Barkman who was with Ballet Manila for three years and Hernandez who debuted as Basilio in the company’s Don Quixote in 2023.
Between rehearsals, the three dancers taped a guesting in Art 2 Art, the art-advocacy program hosted by Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde on DZRH and DZRH News Television. In the episode to be aired on June 1, they discussed their respective ballet journeys, the challenges of a dancing career and their passions and pursuits outside of ballet.
Elizalde – who herself is playing Queen Mother in Swan Lake – described the classic’s comeback as a must-watch. Asked what audiences can expect, she enumerates: “Some really great corps dancing in Act 1 and 3. And a flock of swans to die for in Acts 2 and 4. Our soloists are also tackling their roles of Pas de Trois and the Jester with formidable technique and artistry. And of course, guest artists of the highest quality in Katherine, Esteban and Nathaniel and a glorious Odette/Odile from our very own Abigail Oliveiro!”
Swan Lake is Ballet Manila’s second offering for its 30th Anniversary season, following the Pearl Gala last March.
Photos by Giselle Kasilag
