To be a ballerina is many a young girl’s dream. I, for one, am a frustrated ballet dancer (lol), so I got really excited upon witnessing a sneak peek of Ballet Manila’s 24th performance season titled ‘On Pointé’ during the media launch at S Maison last July 15, 2019.

Ballet Manila is said to be the most solidly trained classical ballet company in the Philippines and once again, they will be on stage for a series of breathtaking shows this season. “Being able to dance on pointé” is how Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Liza Macuja Elizalde defines classical ballet, thus the decision to go with the theme.

On Pointé will open with Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s “Snow White” to revisit the earlier installment of her Princess Trilogy. It will be presented on September 7 and 8 at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City.

Following the classic fairy tale, the seven dwarfs help Snow White hide from the wicked queen, who wishes to be the fairest in the land.

On September 7 to 8, the classic romantic ballet “Giselle” will be up next. The prima ballerina plans to have a classical warhorse every season to strengthen the company as advised by her teacher and mentor, Tatiana Udalenkova.

It will then be followed by Liza Macuja Elizalde’s “Sleeping Beauty”, Ballet Manila’s Christmas production, which will premiere on December 7 to 8, 2019.

For the finale, the Filipino ballet legend has chosen to choreograph the music to her favorite opera, La Traviata, alongside her “partner in crime” and co-artistic director Osias Barroso.

La Traviata is a story of love, betrayal, and its ultimate sacrifice as Violeta is forced to give up the love of her life, Alfredo, to save his family’s reputation.

It will be presented back-to-back with the choreographic debut of Ballet Manila’s retired principal dancer Rudy De Dios with “Carmina Burana.” This collaboration of ballet, opera, and orchestra will be staged on February 29 and March 1, 2020.

Carmina Burana is a theater piece based on a collection of 13th-century songs and poems composed by minstrels and monks who had freed themselves of monastic discipline. Thus, the ballet is an abstract landscape of movement as it both lament over and celebrate the ever-changing fate of man.

The company is set to showcase performances that reflect refined techniques, dignified artistry, magnificent storytelling, and genuine passion for dancing so as not to disappoint ballet lovers. For those who haven’t seen a live ballet production, now is your chance!

Check out more photos from the media launch of On Pointé, Ballet Manila’s 24th performance season here:

Watch Ballet Manila’s On Pointé official teaser here:

Ballet Manila

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