‘The Dawn of Ballet’ revisited

Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja Elizalde and The Dawn jointly celebrated a 40-year milestone in a show that blended rock music and classical dance. The Dawn of Ballet marked four decades since the return of the Ballet Manila artistic director to the Philippines after becoming the first foreigner to be named a soloist for the Kirov Ballet. The iconic rock band, on the other hand, observed four decades of performing their unique brand of music and changing the landscape of original Filipino music.

The Dawn of Ballet – presented as a special edition of Ballet Manila’s popular Ballet & Ballads series in two evenings of free shows at Aliw Theater – showcased the band’s greatest hits performed live with the distinctive choreographies of Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Martin Lawrance. From Enveloped Ideas to Isang Bangka, the seemingly polar opposite styles found common ground in telling the story of the Filipino spirit through music and dance.

In this clip are photos from the show, highlighting the seamless merging of The Dawn’s percussive sound with Ballet Manila’s artistry and technique.