RENATA SHAKIROVA AND KIMIN KIM BRING FRESH FIRE TO DON QUIXOTE IN BALLET MANILA’S PEARL YEAR FINALE

PHILIPPINES – 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. .

Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim

 

INTERNATIONAL BALLET STARS SHOWCASE A MESMERIZING SWAN LAKE FOR BALLET MANILA’S PEARL YEAR

Philippines – Time and experience shape dancers into artists, and for Katherine Barkman, San Francisco Ballet’s First Soloist, her homecoming to Ballet Manila is both a tribute to her roots and a testament to her growth. Returning to the stage where her professional journey began, she takes on the challenging dual role of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, alongside one of the ballet world’s most celebrated names: Esteban Hernández, principal dancer of San Francisco Ballet.

First row (L-R) Ballet Manila company soloist Noah Esplana; principal dancers Jessica Pearl Dames, Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Lynn Oliveiro; CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde; principal dancers Shaira May Comeros and Joshua Enciso; and soloist John Ralph Balagot,

Second row (L-R, via zoom) San Francisco Ballet company artist Nathaniel Remez, first soloist Katherine Barkman and principal dancer Esteban Hernandez

 

More than just a guest artist—Esteban Hernández is a phenomenon. A trailblazer from Guadalajara, Mexico, Esteban trained at The Royal Ballet School and rose to global acclaim for his technical brilliance and expressive storytelling. As a principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, he has captivated audiences worldwide. Filipino audiences first witnessed his charm and virtuosity as Basilio in Don Quixote 2023. Now, he returns in a role of royal gravitas—as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF BALLET MANILA'S LEGACY AND INSPIRING GENERATIONS

Philippines – Against all odds and surpassing every expectation, Ballet Manila triumphantly celebrates its 30th 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. 

Lisa Macuja Elizalde and Osias Barroso Jr. were long time creative partners. This partnership was pivotal in shaping Ballet Manila to what it is today.

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 performance. All part of the discipline needed to stay in top form to be able to dance well,” recounts Lisa. She emphasized daily class, discipline, and prioritizing dancers' welfare have been a cornerstone of the company's success.

Deeply rooted in its Russian Vaganova roots, the classics are at the heart of Ballet Manila’s repertoire.