Ballet Manila: 30 years of passion, precision and performance

Ballet Manila, one of the country’s premier classical ballet companies known for its mastery of the rigorous Russian Vaganova method, is celebrating its 30th anniversary — its “Pearl Year” — with a season of performances that will honor its legacy and its enduring love for the art from March to August.

Staying true to its mission of making ballet accessible to all Filipinos, this milestone season will feature world-class productions, international guest artists, and a seamless blend of timeless classics and original works that define its journey.

The Pearl Gala: A tribute to three decades of dance

The anniversary festivities will begin with The Pearl Gala, a showcase at Aliw Theater on 7 March, with encore performances on 8 and 9 March. The gala will revisit some of Ballet Manila’s most exquisite pieces and will culminate in the world premiere of Pearls, a new ballet choreographed by Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Martin Lawrance and Gerardo Francisco Jr.

Among the evening’s highlights will be Paquita, a classical gem that Ballet Manila first performed 30 years ago. Bringing it back to the stage will be a nod to the company’s roots, a testament to its unwavering commitment to technical brilliance. Also featured will be Bloom, a celebrated work by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa that has graced international stages, from Cincinnati Ballet to Los Angeles Ballet.

“We are actually in a rather unusual situation where we have more male dancers than female dancers in the company — something rare for a ballet company,” shared Macuja-Elizalde at a recent press conference. This distinctive dynamic will shine in Bloom, where the male dancers will take center stage in a rare departure from traditional ballet casting.

The evening’s grand finale, Pearls, will serve as a metaphor for the dancer’s journey — each performer, like a pearl, shaped through years of discipline before achieving effortless grace.

‘Swan Lake’

Following the gala, Ballet Manila will take on one of the most beloved and technically demanding ballets of all time: Swan Lake. Set for 30 May, with additional performances on 31 May and 1 June, the production will showcase Abigail Oliveiro and San Francisco Ballet’s Nathaniel Remez in the lead roles for the matinee, while soloist Katherine Barkman and principal dancer Esteban Hernandez, also from San Francisco Ballet, will perform in all three regular shows.

“Swan Lake is one of the most challenging ballets, especially for a company, because the corps de ballet requires at least 18 exceptionally strong ballerinas to form the swan corps,” said Macuja-Elizalde.

The dual role of Odette and Odile will be an extraordinary test for any ballerina — demanding both the delicate lyricism of the White Swan and the bold, fiery attack of the Black Swan.

“I always call it a ‘schizophrenic’ ballet because of the extreme contrasts a dancer must embody in one performance,” she added.

Ballet Manila’s history with Swan Lake is deeply personal. “It was an achievement that we were able to perform Swan Lake as Ballet Manila, with our own staging choreographed for the company by the late Sergey Vikharev,” she added.

The production will once again highlight the disciplined precision of the Vaganova method, a hallmark of Ballet Manila’s artistry.

‘Don Quixote’: A finale to the Pearl Year

Ending the season on a high note, Don Quixote will bring the legendary Mariinsky Prima Ballerina Renata Shakirova back to Manila as Kitri, with Joshua Enciso making his debut as Basilio.

For Macuja-Elizalde, Don Quixote is the perfect way to close this landmark year: “It is a ballet that feels like a two-hour nonstop celebration.”

Bursting with fiery choreography and dazzling technique, it is a piece that carries deep personal meaning for her.

“Kitri has become my signature role as a ballerina, and it is also a signature role for Renata, who showcases her light gigantic leaps, multiple and fast pirouettes, and the 32 fouettés that everyone can look forward to,” she remarked.

Legacy of storytelling and accessibility

Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year is a testament to its three-decade mission of making ballet more inclusive. Reflecting on this achievement, Macuja-Elizalde shared:

“Another major achievement is bringing ballet to the masses through productions like Circus de Ballet and Ballet & Ballads. I wouldn’t say we ‘dumbed down’ the art, but we made it more accessible, relatable, and something not to be feared.”

Looking back on 30 years of groundbreaking performances, what fills Macuja-Elizalde with the greatest pride is Ballet Manila’s dedication to telling Filipino stories through dance.

“Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura, Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang, Alamat, Sibol at Gunaw, even Pista — these productions where we collaborated with Filipino artists, not just dancers but also designers and composers. There’s nothing like being the first to perform an original work.”

“At the end of the day, a ballet company’s greatest achievement is in the performance itself —because that is what audiences see, and hopefully, what makes them want to come back again and again,” Macuja-Elizalde reflected.

With a season that honors tradition while embracing innovation, Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year is more than a celebration — it upholds its mission to bring ballet to the people and the people to ballet. Whether you are a devoted ballet lover or discovering its magic for the first time, this milestone season promises performances that will inspire, captivate, and leave audiences spellbound.