PBF scholars, LMSB students win big at International Ballet Grand Prix in Singapore
In the Solo Variation, the three young danseurs won top awards: Angelou Gamayon and John Sixto Dones, the gold and silver in Senior (18-21) and Natsumi Dionisio the silver in Senior (15-17).
Project Ballet Futures scholars Angelou Gamayon and John Sixto Dones romped off with the gold and silver awards in Ballet Solo Senior (18-21 years old) while Lisa Macuja School of Ballet (LMSB) student Natsumi Poe Dionisio received the silver in Ballet Solo Senior (15-17 years old) at the International Ballet Grand Prix in Singapore which concluded last Sunday.
The winning team celebrates at the International Ballet Grand Prix: (from left) Lisa Macuja School of Ballet assistant director Sofia Sangco-Peralta, John Sixto Dones, Sofia Torrecampo, Stephen Joeule Garrovillo, Aiesha Janine Crisostomo, Angelou Gamayon, Nina Arabela Nuñez, Jaliah Krystal Bañez, Anne Bernice Allenda, Natsumi Dionisio, Julianne Keiko Bañez and Ballet Manila guest choreographer Martin Lawrance.
Dancing the Franz Variation, Gamayon won the top honor along with a scholarship to the New Zealand School of Ballet.
Dones meanwhile earned the silver with his performance of the Ali Variation.
Dionisio also danced the Franz Variation in his category.
Gamayon, Dones and Dionisio were also part of the six-member group that won the gold award for Group Classical in the same competition, dancing LMSB director Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Pas de Six choreography. The other members were Anne Bernice L. Allenda, Julianne Keiko Bañez and Nina Arabela Nuñez.
In Group Contemporary, LMSB bagged the silver for Barricade choreographed by Martin Lawrance. The group was composed of Sofia Kristyana Torrecampo, Julianne Keiko Bañez, Aiesha Janine Crisostomo, Natsumi Poe Dionisio, Stephen Jouele Garcia, Nina Arabela Nuñez and Jaliah Krystal Bañez.
“Hugely proud of our students for representing our country and our school in Singapore! Such a fine showing! Well done and congratulations!” hailed Macuja Elizalde.
Team LMSB at the International Ballet Grand Prix in Singapore
The delegation to Singapore was headed by LMSB assistant director and faculty member Sofia Sangco-Peralta and Ballet Manila guest choreographer Martin Lawrance.
It has been a particularly good year for scholars Gamayon and Dones. Apart from scoring the top honors at the IBGP online competition in May, each of them have also done well in other ballet derbies.
Last April, Gamayon won the silver in the senior division of the Asian Grand Prix Manila Regionals, qualifying him to compete in the AGP Finals to be held in Manila this month.
Dones, for his part, won second place in the Classical Senior Division of the 2025 Dance Open America Taiwan Regionals, giving him a chance to compete in the Miami Finals of the competition in 2026. He also won second place in the Classical Advanced Pas de Deux together with Pin-Chiao Hsu of Zhongli Youth Ballet.
Both Gamayon and Dones have been long-time scholars of Project Ballet Futures and have had the chance to dance in Ballet Manila productions and join performance tours. The teen danseurs were part of the company’s recent Swan Lake performances.
Related links:
Late-bloomer ballet scholar Angelou Gamayon steps up at his own pace
For scholar Sixto Dones, ballet is the gift that keeps on giving
