“We are a team, a family… (W)e will continue to fight and work hard and overcome this together,” said Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde.
It has been over two months since the fire that razed Aliw Theater set askew the company’s 24th performance season line up. Showing strength and resilience, the dance company is slowly rising from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix to carry on with its goals and mission. “We went back to the original motto of Ballet Manila — ‘have floor, will dance.’ We did this before there was Aliw Theater and even Star Theater. So that is what we will do now,” she said.
Ballet Manila is all set for the world premiere of Sleeping Beauty. An awakening from the brief slumber caused by the tragic fire, it will be the third show in the company’s 24th performance season “On Pointe.”
Set against the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Macuja Elizalde’s choreography adapting bits and pieces from the original staging by Marius Petipa and Konstantin Sergeyev, the classical masterpiece will be staged on January 18 at 6:00 PM and January 19 at 3:00 PM Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.
“Sleeping Beauty is a masterwork… Ballet Manila (will) preserve that tradition and, at the same time, create something entirely new.” she said.
With the help of Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso, also the show’s choreography assistant and rehearsal master, the country’s foremost and well-loved prima ballerina guarantees a spectacular retelling of the famous fairy tale.
Producing the show was more challenging, Macuja Elizalde said, due to limited time for setting up and technical rehearsals given the new venue.
Nevertheless, Macuja Elizalde said that they have saved the best for last as Sleeping Beauty will be the fitting ending to her Princess Trilogy.
The show will feature a powerhouse cast led by principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames as Aurora and fellow principal dancer Romeo Peralta as Prince Phillip. Completing the cast are Mark Sumaylo, Rissa May Camaclang, Joan Sia, Gerardo Francisco, Rafael Perez, Alvin Dictado, Shaira Comeros, and Emma Harris.
Macuja Elizalde admitted that only their successful performance of Giselle last October erased her doubts about staging Sleeping Beauty after the destructive fire. With Sleeping Beauty, she vowed that Ballet Manila will dance beautifully and majestically for the audience to remember for a long, long time.
For tickets, visit any Ticketworld outlet; or call 8891 9999, or go to www.ticketworld.com.ph.
