Three of a Kind: Cutting edge

They say that good things come in threes and the Ballet Manila Archives wholeheartedly agrees! In this series, we feature three photos or videos with the same theme that celebrate the history of ballet, the company, and its dancers.

In the midst of a tumultuous encounter or at the beginning of a risky quest, some characters go straight to the point. Here are three characters taking a stab – almost quite literally – at what faces them as they throw all caution to the wind.

Tybalt (Romeo Peralta Jr.), a member of the Capulet clan, draws a knife against Romeo (Rudy De Dios) who belongs to the rival Montague family as the latter’s friend Benvolio (Rudolph Capongcol) protests. The tension between the warring aristocrats escalates in Romeo and Juliet (2015) after a killing that demands retribution. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Pedro (Sean Pelegrin) has volunteered to search for his long-missing sisters in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, one of the tales comprising Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2024). Recognizing that it is a dangerous mission, he brings along a dagger as a weapon against perils he might face. Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto

Nikiya (Lisa Macuja Elizalde) snatches a knife and aims it at Gamzatti (Mylene Aggabao) in the confrontation scene from La Bayadere (2013). The princess has summoned the temple dancer to the palace and tries to convince her to give up her claim on the warrior Solor in exchange for riches, but Nikiya is enraged and acts impulsively before realizing the horror of her action and flees. Photo by Ocs Alvarez