#TheaterPH - Ballet Manila: Celebrating 30 Years of Inspiring Generations and Surpassing Expectations
Against all odds and surpassing every expectation, Ballet Manila is triumphantly celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. This milestone is a testament to the company's resilience, unwavering passion, and boundless creativity. From its humble beginnings, Ballet Manila has risen to become a symbol of artistic excellence and a beacon of hope, inspiring countless individuals to pursue their dreams with passion and hard work.
Three Decades of Dedication and Passion for Excellence
Reflecting on this incredible journey, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila's CEO and artistic director, shares that the company's legacy speaks for itself. At its core are values instilled by its first artistic director, Eric V. Cruz, and her co-artistic director of many years, the late Osias Barroso Jr. "Taking company class every day and jumping until the end of class is a must-do for everyone in the company. The rule really was no class, no rehearsal. No rehearsal, no performance," recounts Lisa. This discipline has been a cornerstone of Ballet Manila's success.
Over the past three decades, Ballet Manila has achieved numerous milestones. From classical ballets like "Swan Lake" and "La Bayadere" to specialized performances such as "Circus De Ballet" and "Ballet and Ballads," the company has captivated audiences with its exceptional artistry. A particularly proud moment was the international premiere of "Ibong Adarna" at the Karmiel Festival in Israel in 2014, marking the first Filipino full-length ballet to achieve such a feat.
Many of Ballet Manila's alumni have gone on to achieve great success in their careers. Christine Rocas retired after being a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago for over 15 seasons, while Katherine Barkman is currently a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet. Other notable alumni include Chris Mohnani, now Managing Director of the Samsung Performing Arts Center, and Jeffrey and Pamela Espejo, who both serve as faculty at Steps and Academy One.
Lisa also highlights the thriving current crop of teachers and dancers at Ballet Manila and the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet, including Romeo and Sofia Peralta, Eileen Lopez, and Gerardo Francisco Jr. Among all, Lisa considers the late Osias Barroso Jr. her best and most successful student: "He has taught so many dancers and has basically changed the landscape of male ballet dancers in the Philippines," she says.
Dancing into the Future
As Ballet Manila celebrates its 30th year, Lisa has many reasons to be excited about the future. Currently, she's hard at work on "PEARLS," a new choreography for the Pearl Gala to celebrate the company's anniversary. She is also eager to expand her Princess Trilogy by adding a fourth Princess Ballet and envisions extending their Filipino series to incorporate other literary works studied in high school and college.
Excitement is also building for their upcoming international and local tours in 2025, which will see Ballet Manila's blockbuster ballets "Ibong Adarna" and "Cinderella" brought to various locations here and abroad.
Ballet Manila remains dedicated to its mission of "bringing ballet to the people and people to the ballet." Lisa's strategy is simple yet powerful: "To keep on dancing, one high-quality performance at a time. Every time I talk to my dancers before a performance, I always tell them to dance so well that the audience will want to come back again and again."
With a strong foundation and continuous innovation, Ballet Manila is heading into a bright future. As Lisa passionately declares, "The best is always yet to come!"
For more information about Ballet Manila and its upcoming performances, please visit www.balletmanila.com.ph.
Comments
Post a Comment