A continuing journey of many firsts: Shaira Comeros celebrates a decade with Ballet Manila
From learning the Sleeping Beauty variation in her early years with Ballet Manila, Shaira Comeros has graduated to dancing the full-length ballet, opposite soloist Jos David Andes. Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto
By Jv Ramos
It was in 2016 that Shaira Comeros first entered the studios of Ballet Manila. Accepted as a trainee at 16, she would soon join the second company after training for two months and dance her way to another promotion every two years.
For Ballet Manila principal dancer Shaira Comeros, dancing is still the best way to express herself. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
“I can’t believe that it has already been 10 years,” muses the ballerina. “But I also knew from the beginning that I would be here for a long time. Actually, seven years old pa lang ako, nu’ng kaka-umpisa pa lang ng training ko, alam ko na na ang patutunguhan ko ay ballet!” (Actually, when I first started my training at seven, I already knew that I’d end up in ballet.)
Asked how she knew that she was destined for ballet, Shaira notes it became a form of communication for her. “As a non-vocal person, ballet became my way to express. I guess what made me stay in ballet is the privilege it gives to express oneself, and as years passed, naging identity ko na rin siya. I mean, sure, may iba akong hobbies, pero hindi sila parang ballet na hindi ko na alam kung sino ako kung mawala ito sa buhay ko.” (Ballet has become my identity. I mean, sure, I have other hobbies, but they’re not like ballet where I would no longer know who I am if it’s not in my life.)
Now twenty-six years old and a principal dancer, Shaira feels everything that’s fallen into her lap is a sign that she’s meant to be a professional ballerina and that her journey with Ballet Manila still has many chapters to unfold. Take for example her most recent full-length role as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. She comments, “It’s amazing how I started my early years here in BM learning the variation of Sleeping Beauty, and now, here I am dancing the entire ballet.”
Shaira practiced the distortions required in the contemporary genre in front of the mirror to better prepare herself for dancing as the Ibong Adarna. With her are the three princes in the ballet, portrayed by (from left) Noah Esplana, Rafael Perez and Romeo Peralta. Photo by Stephanie Santiago
Our subject assesses how being able to dance Aurora is a testament to her growth as a dancer. “Unlike the other two princesses I did before, Sleeping Beauty is very technical. It’s a role that tests your ability as a classical dancer. Snow White and Cinderella are more character ballets. Both don’t also require you to be on stage all the time. As Aurora, wala ka masyadong pahinga, at kita rin lahat dahil maikli ang tutu. Kailangan lagi talagang naka-point ang toes mo!” (As Aurora, you hardly rest and everything you do is noticed since the tutu is short. You always need to point your toes.)
“It’s very challenging to be Aurora, but I’m satisfied with how I did and I am very grateful for the trust of Ma’am Lisa [Macuja Elizalde, BM artistic director] to let me dance another princess role. It’s an honor to dance all three of her princesses throughout my years here.” She adds that Sleeping Beauty was also a very special experience as it involved firsts like dancing with the Manila Symphony Orchestra and exploring a new partnership with Ballet Manila soloist Jos David Andes.
“Dancing with an orchestra feels very different,” says Shaira, noting that there’s another layer to be conscious of. “You have to be aware of the orchestra, and have to work and connect with the conductor. Of course, there’s also the connection that you have with your fellow dancers.”
Although she’s always seen herself as a bravura dancer, Shaira enjoyed performing the lyrical role of Odette in Swan Lake. Photo by Ryly Pontino/ Silliman University Culture and Arts Council
As for her partnering journey, she comments that she’s excited to partner again with David. “It’s our first time to be partners in a full-length ballet, and while there are things that we can both improve on, I’m satisfied with how we performed. I think that there’s so much growth that we can do together.”
As Cupid to Renata Shakirova’s Dulcinea in Don Quixote, Shaira wore a green tutu that she herself made. Sewing is apparently a skill she shares with the Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer. Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto
Speaking of growth, Shaira is pleased about how she’s able to truly enjoy roles that she once never saw herself in. There’s Odette and Odile in Swan Lake – a dual role that she refers to as her hardest as it was highly technical and challenging which required presenting two very different characters. “Surprisingly, I enjoyed doing the White Swan pas de deux more even if I’ve always seen myself as a bravura dancer. I liked how emotional, dramatic, and strong Odile is, and how technically challenging the role is. With the White Swan, you really cannot mess up! If you do, it affects the entire ballet.”
Then, there is her portrayal of the mythical bird in Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna, which was presented in Silliman University in Dumaguete last February. “Natutuwa ako sa ideya na very classical dancers kami ni Paeng at kami ang pinag-partner sa isang contemporary piece,” she expresses. (I find it fascinating that they decided to pair Rafael “Paeng” Perez and me, two very classical dancers, in a contemporary piece. )
Shaira is partnered by Gerardo Francisco Jr. in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Bloom, featured in Ballet Manila’s The Pearl Gala (2025). Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto
To be able to portray the “reyna ng gubat” (queen of the forest), Shaira says that she practiced the distortions required in the contemporary genre in front of the mirror. “Dahil mas classical dancer ako, hindi ko kayang laruin o i-improv ang mga galaw ng Ibong Adarna. Kailangan ko siyang i-practice at aralin talaga.” (Because I’m more of a classical dancer, I cannot play or improvise the movements of the Ibong Adarna. I needed to practice and really study it.)
Having danced as a Swan Queen before, also in Dumaguete, Shaira already knew how to portray the character of the magical creature. The challenge, however, was making big projections given her petite body structure. “Kailangang makita kami ni Paeng ng mga malalayong audience. Kailangan din na kita pa rin ang Adarna kahit matatangkad na dancers – sina Rodney [Catubay] at John [Balagot] – ang mga wings.” (Paeng and I needed to be seen by the audience who are far from the stage. I also needed to be seen more even if we had tall dancers – soloists Rodney Catubay and John Ralp Balagot – as my wings.)
“Gaya ng Swan Lake, sobrang memorable sa akin ang Ibong Adarna. Iba kasi ang crowd ng Dumaguete. Sobrang ingay at supportive sila tuwing nag-pe-perform kami, so feel na feel mo na na-a-appreciate ka as an artist.” (Like Swan Lake, I found Ibong Adarna so memorable. The Dumaguete crowd is really different. They’re noisy and supportive whenever we perform, so you really feel appreciated as an artist.) Here, Shaira shares how she was so touched by a young fan’s effort to create a collage of her photos.
After her debut in Snow White (2019) opposite principal dancer Romeo Peralta (center), Shaira remembers being told by the late co-artistic director Osias Barroso Jr. (right): “You were a revelation!” Photo courtesy of Shaira Comeros
So, what’s Shaira favorite moment in her 10 years with Ballet Manila? “It would have to be all those years I spent being trained by Sir Shaz [the late co-artistic director Osias Barroso Jr.]. There was so much tough love during those years, but those were also the years that defined who I am as a dancer, as an artist. Sir Shaz didn’t just prepare us for the stage. He taught us discipline and how to carry ourselves.”
Since Barroso didn’t give compliments easily, Shaira was so moved by his comment when she successfully danced her first lead role in 2019. “That was Snow White and I was still a company artist back then. Nu’ng sinabihan niya ako ng, ‘Shaira, you were a revelation!’, nagkaroon ako ng confidence. Doon ko na-realize that I can be bigger!” (When he told me, ‘Shaira, you were a revelation!’, that boosted my confidence. It also made me believe that I can be bigger!)
In recent years, Shaira has become interested in another aspect of ballet: costume-making. From sewing leotards, she is now studying how to create tutus, a craft that became a livelihood for her parents. “Knowing how to dance really helps when you’re making costumes,” she comments, saying she has already worn two of her own handmade tutus on stage: Cupid’s green tutu in Ballet Manila’s 2025 performance of Don Quixote and a white tutu for her Nutcracker performance with the Bohol Dance School last December. “Marami pa akong gusto na i-try at gustong matutunan habang malakas pa sina Mama at Papa! Natutuwa rin ako kung paano naging bonding activity ang sewing sa amin ni Renata [Shakirova].” (There’s so much that I want to try to sew and so many things I want to learn from Mama and Papa while they’re still strong! I’m also glad about how sewing became a bonding activity for me and Renata Shakirova.)
In 2024, Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer Renata Shakirova (right) – guesting in Ballet Manila’s Giselle – showed Shaira how to fix her tutu for the Peasant pas de deux. Photo courtesy of Shaira Comeros
When the Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer first performed with the company in 2024, she showed Shaira how to fix her costume for the Peasant pas de deux. “It was Ma’am Lisa who told me that Renata also does her own costumes – she in fact did her Act I Giselle costume – and it was very kind of her to teach me how to solve the issue with my costume. Actually, she’s very, very approachable no matter who you are! I really admire how she is as a dancer and person.”
Regarding what she’s looking forward to with Ballet Manila, Shaira replies, “I’m very thankful for all the opportunities, especially the many debuts I’ve had this past year. Right now, I really have no expectations. I just want to dance!”
As she marks a decade with Ballet Manila, Shaira says she has no expectations. “I just want to dance!” she enthuses. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
