The Ballet Manila Archives is the repository of documents, print, photographic, audio and video materials and memorabilia relating to the history of Ballet Manila and the life and career of its founder, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. This site is powered by Ms. Elizalde and Project Art, Inc.
All in My Favorite Dance Movie
When it comes to dance movies, Ballet Manila company artist Sean Pelegrin swears by the street dance battle film You Got Served.
Ballet Manila soloist Joshua Enciso is a big fan of the Step Up dance movies, but his absolute favorite is Step Up Revolution.
Dancing with a company that subscribes to the Russian Vaganova training method, it is perhaps no surprise that Ballet Manila company artist Emma Harris points to Backstage at the Kirov as her film of choice.
Ballet Manila 2’s Godwin Merano has two all-time favorite dance movies – Mao’s Last Dancer and Center Stage. But pressed to make just one choice, he says it is the latter because it is his “first love.”
For Marinette Franco, High Strung accurately captures the challenges of being a ballet dancer – how hard it is to get in, to maintain what one has and to do everything just to be able to do what one loves.
Based on Li Cunxin’s biography of the same title, the film Mao’s Last Dancer is Ballet Manila company artist Jessica Pearl Dames’ favorite dance movie.
For Ballet Manila soloist Jasmine Pia Dames, the term "first position" even has more resonance as it serves as the title of her favorite dance film.
Music, dance, performance – this is the powerful combination that Burlesque offers, and which Ballet Manila rehearsal master Jonathan “Jay” Janolo points to as to why he likes this film.
Ice Castles is actually a favorite movie of Joan's mom Jiji and it was she who introduced the ballerina to the romance drama.
Hands down, the 2000 American teen flick Center Stage – set in a fictitious ballet school and starring real-life dancers – is Abigail Oliveiro’s favorite dance movie.
