Ballet Manila Archives

Feb 19

Feb 19 Philippine-based for 40 years, Lisa Macuja Elizalde celebrates with ‘Prima’ season for Ballet Manila

Looking back now, Macuja Elizalde believes everything that has happened in her career was destiny, particularly the detour in 1986 which brought her back to the land where was born and raised – and got her first taste of ballet.

Feb 12

Feb 12 How company artist Idelle Buhia finally fell in love with ballet

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

This ballerina officially joined Ballet Manila as a company artist when they were in the middle of their preparations for Swan Lake in Dumaguete tour.

Dec 20

Dec 20 After several firsts since her return to Ballet Manila, Nanami Hasegawa caps 2025 as Snow White

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Soon, this ballerina will be stepping into her first principal role in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Snow White.

Nov 5

Nov 5 Kimin Kim: The accidental dancer who became a superstar at Mariinsky Ballet

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Among the milestones of Ballet Manila’s 30th year was performing Don Quixote with world-renowned danseur, Kimin Kim, as Basilio.

Oct 28

Oct 28 Finding Snow White and the Prince: Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo chase happy-ever-after in another fairy tale

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Since Ballet Manila premiered it in 2017, this ballerina and her prince in real life have portrayed the Evil Queen and the Huntsman, respectively, several times that they never expected to be cast as the fairy tale’s lead characters.

Oct 16

Oct 16 Rafael Perez and Shamira Drapete: Making Florante and Laura their own in their first full-length debut

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Since their roles were originally choreographed for Joshua Enciso and Abigail Oliveiro, Rafael and Shamira were admittedly pressured by the idea that they wouldn’t be able meet the gold standard set by the two principal dancers.

Sep 4

Sep 4 Bonded by ballet: The Peraltas on safeguarding company tradition and helping mold the next generation of dancers

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

On its milestone Pearl Year, Sofia and Romeo find themselves busier than ever.

Aug 19

Aug 19 Samantha Garay: Being in ballet – and loving every moment of it

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Asked what her situation was like during the pandemic, Sam says she found herself craving to dance even more.

Aug 10

Aug 10 Ballet Manila newbie Reign Pelegrin follows in her brothers’ dancing footsteps

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Having grown up with three brothers who trained and performed with Steps Dance Studio, it didn’t take long before Reign developed an interest in ballet herself.

Jul 22

Jul 22 13 years after their high school ‘Swan Lake,’ Pearl and Pia Dames are ready to be Odette and Odile once more

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Swan Lake holds a special place in the hearts of Ballet Manila principal dancers Jessica Pearl Dames and Jasmine Pia Dames.

Jul 20

Jul 20 Noah Esplana makes Prince Siegfried his own in ‘Swan Lake’

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

“It’s important to remember that the Siegfried I’m performing is my own.”

Jul 16

Jul 16 Shaira Comeros takes maiden flight as Odette and Odile in full-length ‘Swan Lake’

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Principal ballerina Shaira Comeros never pictured herself as a Swan Queen.

Jul 9

Jul 9 Rothbarts rising: John Balagot and Rodney Catubay on portraying one of ballet's iconic villains

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Among the new faces to play the story’s evil sorcerer Von Rothbart are soloist John Ralp Balagot and company artist Rodney Catubay.

Jun 30

Jun 30 For scholar Sixto Dones, ballet is the gift that keeps on giving

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Almost marking a decade since he first started in Project Ballet Futures, Sixto knows that more challenges will come, but he’s sure about staying in ballet and working hard at getting better.

Jun 19

Jun 19 Sayaka Ishibashi dances her way back to Ballet Manila

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

Asked what she missed exactly about Ballet Manila, this artist points at the very mission of the company: to bring ballet to the people.

Jun 12

Jun 12 Late-bloomer ballet scholar Angelou Gamayon steps up at his own pace

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

The year 2025 is looking good for Project Ballet Futures (PBF) scholar Angelou Gamayon.

May 31

May 31 Abigail Oliveiro: Growing and evolving as Odette and Odile in ‘Swan Lake’

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

In her reprising of Odette and Odile in Ballet Manila’s upcoming production of Swan Lake, Abi expresses that the two-fold opportunity is extra special – because it’s as if she never stopped dancing the ballet.

May 29

May 29 Why transforming into the evil Rothbart in ‘Swan Lake’ is Mark Sumaylo’s biggest challenge yet

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

“There really is no villain role like Rothbart. I’m very blessed to be given the opportunity to play him.”

May 17

May 17 For Geri Francisco, dancing is in the heart

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

While he is enjoying the view from the technical booth, Geri is far from hanging up his dancing shoes.

Apr 28

Apr 28 After healing from a first-time ballet injury, Marinette Franco is happy to be back dancing

Ballet Manila Archives

Interviews

As it was her first time to experience an injury, Marinette didn’t know what the next steps were.

Categories

Feb 19 Philippine-based for 40 years, Lisa Macuja Elizalde celebrates with ‘Prima’ season for Ballet Manila

Feb 12 How company artist Idelle Buhia finally fell in love with ballet

Dec 20 After several firsts since her return to Ballet Manila, Nanami Hasegawa caps 2025 as Snow White

Nov 5 Kimin Kim: The accidental dancer who became a superstar at Mariinsky Ballet

Oct 28 Finding Snow White and the Prince: Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo chase happy-ever-after in another fairy tale

Oct 16 Rafael Perez and Shamira Drapete: Making Florante and Laura their own in their first full-length debut

Sep 4 Bonded by ballet: The Peraltas on safeguarding company tradition and helping mold the next generation of dancers

Aug 19 Samantha Garay: Being in ballet – and loving every moment of it

Aug 10 Ballet Manila newbie Reign Pelegrin follows in her brothers’ dancing footsteps

Jul 22 13 years after their high school ‘Swan Lake,’ Pearl and Pia Dames are ready to be Odette and Odile once more

Jul 20 Noah Esplana makes Prince Siegfried his own in ‘Swan Lake’

Jul 16 Shaira Comeros takes maiden flight as Odette and Odile in full-length ‘Swan Lake’

Jul 9 Rothbarts rising: John Balagot and Rodney Catubay on portraying one of ballet's iconic villains

Jun 30 For scholar Sixto Dones, ballet is the gift that keeps on giving

Jun 19 Sayaka Ishibashi dances her way back to Ballet Manila

Jun 12 Late-bloomer ballet scholar Angelou Gamayon steps up at his own pace

May 31 Abigail Oliveiro: Growing and evolving as Odette and Odile in ‘Swan Lake’

May 29 Why transforming into the evil Rothbart in ‘Swan Lake’ is Mark Sumaylo’s biggest challenge yet

May 17 For Geri Francisco, dancing is in the heart

Apr 28 After healing from a first-time ballet injury, Marinette Franco is happy to be back dancing

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