Star Powerhouse

Ballet  Manila principal dancer  Abigail Oliveiro as Snow White.   Ballet Manila continues its cherished Holiday Cheer Series, a family oriented program that has become a staple of the Christmas season since 2022. This year, audiences are invited to experience the enchanting and timeless story of Snow White, running from December 25 to 29, 2025 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. For Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director; and Snow White choreographer,  Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the Holiday Cheer Series has brought nostalgic tales to life year after year, making ballet accessible entertainment for everyone and an experience that families can share.  A kiss of true devotion breaks the spell—Snow White awakens, and love triumphs to the cheers of all (photo courtesy of Iron Rose photographer Mr. Wu Wenbo) “Holiday Cheer Series is our way of bringing people together through ballet,” shared Lisa. “These productions are not only about artistry, ...

  After a critically acclaimed world premiere marked by overwhelming audience response, Ballet Manila’s Florante at Laura returns to Aliw Theater, with performances scheduled on October 3 at 8:00 PM, and October 4 and 5 at 5:00 PM.  For Ballet Manila’s founder and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, the return of Florante at Laura is not a rerun but a reckoning with our collective appreciation of our Filipino heritage. It is a rare opportunity to experience once again Francisco Balagtas’ timeless epic reimagined through myth, music and dance. Lisa has long championed Filipino storytelling through classical ballet, and this re-staging affirms that vision with renewed clarity. “Bringing Florante at Laura back to the stage feels like coming full circle. The first run was a dream realized; the second at Areté affirmed that Filipino stories, when told with care and conviction, truly resonate. Now, with this third staging, it feels less like a return and more like a reckoning....

Performing a role repeatedly can either deepen a dancer’s mastery or dull their connection to the material. For international ballet stars Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim, it’s a challenge they meet with precision, passion, and a relentless pursuit of nuance. Set to portray Kitri and Basilio in Don Quixote from August 22 to 24 at the Aliw Theater—the final offering of Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year season—Renata and Kimin return to roles they’ve danced countless times, but never the same way twice.  Both dancers are part of the world renowned Mariinsky Ballet where they have attained principal dancer status – a feat that signifies their years of experience and expertise in ballet, performing with technical precision and exceptional artistry.   “I think that the role of Kitri is my most performed role in the classical ballet repertoire,” admits Renata. Yet despite this, she stresses that the key to keeping the character fresh is to forget how many times she’s performed it. She ...

Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year Performance Season reaches a spectacular finale with the highly anticipated production of Don Quixote, featuring Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Kimin Kim and Renata Shakirova. Taking on the role of Basilio, this marks Kim’s first ever performance in the Philippines.  Following her triumphant performance in Ballet Manila’s “Giselle” last year, Shakirova returns to perform the role of Kitri. Kim is the first foreign male principal dancer in Mariinsky Ballet’s illustrious history, a groundbreaking achievement in the Russian ballet world. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he was introduced to ballet at the age of 10 when his mother, a composer, encouraged him to pursue the art. He trained under former Mariinsky soloists Margarita Kullik and Vladimir Kim at the Korea National University of Arts, refining his technique in the Vaganova method. His exceptional talent quickly gained international recognition, earning him top honors in prestigious ballet competitions...

Like a pearl whose luster and sheen get better with age, Ballet Manila’s 30th year celebration reflects the graceful passage of the years, marked by a series of stellar productions featuring world-renowned ballet superstars from the US and Russia, all set to take place at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City.   Dubbed the “The Pearl Year,” Ballet Manila is opening the performance season with The Pearl Gala on March 7, 2025, at 8 PM, and on March 8 & 9, 2025, at 5 PM. A collection of the best and most exquisite performance pieces from Ballet Manila, the gala features the world premiere of “Pearls,” choreographed by none other than Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director, along with fellow award-winning choreographers Martin Lawrance and Gerardo Francisco Jr.   Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde     (L-R) Ballet Manila choreographer Martin Lawrance; principal dancers Joshua Enciso, Romeo Peralta and Junmark Sumaylo; CEO and...

  Against all odds and surpassing every expectation, Ballet Manila triumphantly celebrates its 30 th anniversary – a testament to its resilience, unwavering passion and boundless creativity. From its humble beginnings beset by skepticism and naysayers, Ballet Manila has risen to become a symbol of artistic excellence, and a beacon of hope that has inspired countless individuals to pursue their own dreams with passion and hard work.  Three decades of dedication and passion for excellence Reflecting on the journey, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila's CEO and artistic director, shares that Ballet Manila has built a legacy that speaks for itself and 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 performa...

  Responding to overwhelmingly positive reviews, Ballet Manila is set to rekindle the magic of Florante at Laura, the iconic Filipino epic poem turned ballet, with a much-anticipated restaging, this time at the Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, in Quezon City, from November 22 to 24, 2024. The production recently captivated audiences with its stunning choreography, evocative original music, and breathtaking dancing during its triumphant world premiere at the Aliw Theater last month. A Filipino literary masterpiece, ‘Florante at Laura,’ was written in 1838 by the Prince of Tagalog Poets, Francisco ‘Balagtas’ Baltasar. It is a narrative poem that tells the story of Florante, the Duke of Albania, who is captured by Turks. His beloved Laura is forced to marry Count Adolfo, the usurper. With the help of the warrior Aladin, Florante escapes, returns to confront Adolfo, and seeks redemption as he reunites with Laura. Under Lisa Macuja Elizalde's artistic direction, Ballet ...

 Ballet Manila once again unearths the magical baul of Lola Basyang as it transports its audience to a world of fantastic dance, music and spectacular visuals with Ang Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang set to happen at Aliw Theater from May 11, 2024 at 8PM and May 12 &18, 2024 at 5PM. The second show among the repertoire for Ballet Manila’s 26th Performance Season aptly titled “Ballet Masterpieces,” Ang Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang is based on the retellings of Severino Reyes’ stories by Christine Bellen Ang.   Published by Anvil Publishing, the three stories are an engaging mix of romance, adventure and comedy, touching on such universal themes as loyalty and commitment to family, the power of humility and of course, love conquers all.    “We chose three stories out of twelve (12) Lola Basyang books.  It was an interesting process because there were so many great tales that were worth sharing. But in the end, we felt that the themes we chose can truly r...