Angelika Tagupa: Headed back to school but far from hanging up her pointe shoes
Being part of the corps de ballet, Angelika Tagupa (seen here in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s full-length Paquita last June) knows the value of working together well with the other dancers. Photo by MarBi Photography
By Jv Ramos
Angelika Tagupa has been living her dream the last three years. As one who never expected to dance professionally, this Physics major has spent 2024 to the present as a company artist of Ballet Manila—being in season productions, participating in local and international tours, and even performing alongside guest stars from the Mariinsky Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.
Company artist Angelika Tagupa is giving her all to Ballet Manila’s season finale in August, La Bayadere, before she takes a break to finish her Physics degree. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Back in 2023, Angelika’s life was about juggling books and ballet. That is, working towards getting her degree at the University of the Philippines while meeting the demands of a tight performance schedule with Ballet Manila. But she soon realized it wasn’t possible for her to take on both commitments simultaneously. Admittedly, she had difficulty focusing, so eventually she talked with her mom and asked permission if she could take a break from studying first.
“Pumayag naman siya. Basta’t balikan daw ang pag-aaral ko,” recalls Angelika. (She agreed. As long as I returned to my studies.) “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I've decided to just finish this season—my last show is La Bayadere—and get back to my studies. My plan is to finish my units by December and be back here in Ballet Manila by January. There’s still my thesis defense, of course! But I think I could manage submitting requirements from time to time while dancing.”
Up in the air in Isang Bangka, one of the numbers in The Dawn of Ballet last February, a show with the rock band The Dawn. Angelika (second from right) enjoys contemporary pieces just as much as she does classical ballet. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
With only one semester to go, Angelika hopes to finish her units during Ballet Manila’s off-season and continue her journey with the company in early 2027. “The reason I’m setting these dates is, I want to put pressure on myself to finish school. I just really want to get back into dancing since I feel that I’m not done. I started dancing with the company only in 2019, so there’s still a lot that I would like to be part of.”
Angelika is quick to interject, “Taking a break after La Bayadere doesn’t mean that I’ll stop dancing completely. I will still attend the company classes. I just won’t be able to commit to the shows or be part of the tours. I will try to still support the company when I’m away. I just won’t be replying to messages on Wednesdays and Fridays, because those will be my UP and thesis days.”
Rehearsing for Paquita in Ballet Manila’s Studio 1: One of the things Angelika says she will miss is being given corrections. Photo by Missy Macuja Elizalde
Asked what keeps her motivated to meet her goals, Angelika shares that she’s always wanted to finish college—not to mention, she genuinely enjoys doing mathematical physics. But, she also wants to be part of more performances with Ballet Manila.
In 2024, Angelika (extreme left) was in the cast of Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s La Traviata, part of Ballet Manila’s Greatest Hits in Malaysia. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
“Honestly, mas na-enganyo nga ako this year sa ballet,” reveals the ballerina. (Honestly, I got even more determined this year.) I really got motivated with [the coming in of] Natasha (Radulgina, Ballet Manila’s ballet mistress). I like the way she handles rehearsals. She doesn’t just say ‘It’s good.’ She teaches us how to handle the dance and details how the characters should be. I especially like how she teaches us what each piece is culturally. I feel there’s more depth in our dancing with her guidance.”
Has anything changed with the way Angelika handles her life as a ballerina? “Well, I picked up hiking this year. Celine (Astrologo, another Ballet Manila company artist) encouraged me to take it up because she’s been doing it for a while.” Angelika reasons that hiking is the best way for her to experience her love for traveling and exploring the outdoors while also increasing her exercise.
“You see, I hate running so hiking was my solution to get more cardio, and the great thing about hiking is you can easily fit it into your ballet schedule. I do it on my day off, which is on Monday, and in around 9 hours, you’re done and you are back at the studio next day.”
Angelika dances with Angelou Gamayon in Love Stories, Ballet Manila’s series of shows at Star City. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
The company member adds that hiking has helped her clear her mind as it exposes her to a different environment and cleaner air. “It helps with your heart rate, and you’re able to discover or see all sorts of local flora. I like being one with nature, so hiking has really helped!”
But while Angelika enjoys her newfound hobby, she makes sure that it’s in the service of ballet. “Whenever I hike, I make sure that it’s not near a show. Like right now, since La Bayadere is pretty tough on the body, I don’t do any hiking or traveling. I simply rest so I can do well in our rehearsals and shows.”
Angelika points out that she has learned more about working through ballet. “In school, especially in Philippine Science High School and UP, you can get away with self-study or doing things on your own. In ballet, that’s not the case. You all need to work together, especially when you are part of the corps. I also like that practice in Ballet Manila wherein everyone is required to reply to reminders sent in the group chat. I think that’s really a good practice.”
Angelika (second from left) flexes her wings as one of the feathered friends of Cinderella (Abigail Oliveiro) in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Cinderella, staged in Malaysia in 2025. Photo by Larry Salgado
When she goes on her ballet break, Angelika says she will most likely experience withdrawal symptoms. “I’m going to miss the corrections given by the people around me. Like I’m going to miss the pressure that comes from Marinette Franco (Ballet Manila company artist),” she laughingly says. “Dahil sa pag-pe-pressure niya, nag-i-improve ako as a dancer and I like that!” (Because she would put pressure on me, I get to improve as a dancer and I like that!)
“I really intend to come back after my getting my degree,” insists Angelika. “It will be about doing math for a while. But I’ll be back dancing again in January! I really am not done yet with ballet.”
See also:
Physics major Angelika Tagupa makes time for ballet
My Favorite Dance Movie: Angelika Tagupa
One thing Angelika is sure of: “I really am not done yet with ballet.” Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
