Dancing with Ballet Manila a dream-come-true for apprentice Michel Quan
Michi originally wanted to go into gymnastics but ended up in ballet which soon became an interest that then turned into a commitment. Photo by Ric Maniquis
By Jv Ramos
Ballet Manila apprentice Michel Jullianne Grace N. Quan – “Michi” for short – grew up in a Filipino household where free time is considered best spent learning an artistic skill. “We either had to take ballet or piano,” she says. “I honestly did not like any [of those choices], because what I wanted to really do was gymnastics! But since I could not really explain that as a kid, I just went with ballet since it seemed closer to gymnastics.”
Ballet Manila apprentice Michi Quan uprooted herself from Baguio to fulfill her dream of dancing with the country’s premiere classical ballet company. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Upon taking her first class with Ballet Baguio, the reluctance soon turned into interest then into commitment. “I liked that ballet was movement-heavy, especially when I was a child,” Michel expresses. “Then later on, what I really liked about it was being able to portray different characters through dancing. Back in Baguio, we always had themed concerts, so there was a lot of opportunities to explore different characters.”
Ballet Baguio artistic director Jacqueline “Jackie” Go-Ramon recalls seeing Michi’s talent and potential the first time she enrolled in Ballet Baguio at 7 years old. She eventually took Michi on as a scholar and trained her in private classes along with her group classes. Jackie notes that when Michi started competing, she earned Baguio’s first award in a ballet competition – an honorable mention at the 2016 Philippine Dance Cup.
Dancing in Paquita, Michi (third from left) is continuing to learn the intricacies of being part of the corps de ballet. Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto
What stood out for Jackie was the young ballerina’s intense interest in dance. “Michi always had a strong love and dedication for ballet, and while most ballet students in Baguio would quit sometime in college to focus on their studies, she was one of the very few who dared to pursue her dream of being a professional dancer.”
Asked to expound more on her journey with Baguio’s premier classical dance school, Michel shares that she has nothing but fond memories. “I progressed pretty fast when I was growing up with them, so Teacher Jackie kept promoting me to the next level until I was asked to be part of Ballet Baguio’s faculty. I said yes, of course, so for some time, I was teaching and dancing there.”
What Michi loves about ballet is getting to portray different characters. Above, she performs the Aurora Variation from The Nutcracker in her last recital with Ballet Baguio in December 2025. Photo by JJ Go
Michi says while it was fun to be part of Ballet Baguio, a thought kept popping into her mind. “I wanted something more – something that I had always wanted to do, which was to move to Manila and dance with Ballet Manila,” she shares.
She was no stranger to Ballet Manila as Ballet Baguio would often invite the Manila-based premiere classical dance company’s artists to guest in its school productions, Teacher Jackie having been a former student of BM artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde. One of the collaborations between the two groups in recent years was Ballet Manila’s Silver Gala in 2023.
“Whenever they’d perform there [or with us in Ballet Baguio], I was always impressed with their dancing and wished that I could join them one day. I told my mom about this dream, but she felt that I was too young to move to Manila. I promised her then that I’d finish college first.”
Ballet Baguio artistic director Jacqueline Go-Ramon saw Michi’s talent and potential as a first-time enrollee at age 7. In 2016, the student earned Baguio’s first award in a ballet competition – an honorable mention at the 2016 Philippine Dance Cup.
After securing her degree in Computer Science, Michi finally uprooted herself from Baguio to chase her dream of becoming a Ballet Manila artist in 2026.
“When it comes to technique, since we were also trained in the Vaganova way, I did not find it too hard to keep up with classes,” says Michi when asked about her first days with the company. “What I had a difficult time adjusting to though is the heat! When I took my first class here, there was nothing else in my mind but ‘Ang init!’ (It’s hot!). It’s difficult to come from Baguio, where you’d spend a lot of time keeping your body warm before performing, then when you’re here, you just keep sweating! It’s impossible to look fresh in the studio,” she jests.
After four shows of Paquita, Michi celebrates with Ballet Manila artistic director and Paquita choreographer Lisa Macuja Elizalde.
So far, Michi has been part of Ballet Manila’s two season productions, Sleeping Beauty in February and the full-length Paquita. As part of the corps de ballet, she notes that perhaps her biggest adjustment is changing her mindset when performing. “In Baguio, our concerts were about standing out even if you were dancing in a group. Here, that’s something you cannot do. You have to blend in with the girls, be in sync with everyone, which could be difficult as someone who wasn’t trained that way. But I’m happy with all that I am experiencing as an apprentice. I’m thankful that we [apprentices] are being trusted to dance many things. Rehearsals may include a lot of corrections, but that’s okay. We learn a lot from those corrections.”
Michi (right) with fellow apprentices Keisha Almira (left) and Maxeene Castillo at the Ballet Manila Archives. “I’m thankful that we are being trusted to dance many things.”
Paquita was indeed an eye-opener for Michi, and she is looking forward to the next big challenge that is La Bayadere, Ballet Manila’s production in August that will cap its current Prima season. Between learning the two ballets, she indulges in knitting and crocheting during her leisure time to help her cope with the hectic life of a ballerina.
For young girls and boys who may want to take up ballet, this is her advice: “I’d say, try it, and hopefully, they can find a teacher who is as understanding as mine growing up.” Having experienced being both the student and the teacher, this Ballet Manila apprentice knows well that it takes an encouraging village to raise a professional dancer.
“Teacher Jackie was very understanding and supportive when I decided to come here to Ballet Manila. And I’m also experiencing the same support here. Everyone – from the artistic director to the principal dancers to the company members – is willing to help.”
Already used to Ballet Manila’s Vaganova training method, Michi laughingly says her biggest adjustment about moving from Baguio was to the heat. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
