BALLET MANILA BRINGS IBONG ADARNA TO LIFE AT ARETÉ ATENEO

 

Ballet Manila re-stages Ibong Adarna at Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University on October 9 and 10.

PHILIPPINES – A magical story that generations of Filipinos love and know by heart is once again set to come alive in a completely different and enchanting way.

This October, Ballet Manila brings Gerardo Francisco Jr.’s Ibong Adarna back to the stage, transforming the beloved Filipino tale of an enchanted bird, royal brothers, forbidden love, and a quest for healing into a spectacle of music, movement, and dance.

One of the company’s most beloved and performed productions, Ibong Adarna will be staged at Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and October 10 at 5 p.m.

“Ibong Adarna is one of Ballet Manila’s most requested offsite performances. This year, it already had two shows at Jose Rizal Coliseum in Laguna, and now the production is bound to return to Areté in Ateneo before continuing its way to Iloilo,” shared Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and Artistic Director.

THE SOULFUL RETURN OF FLORANTE AT LAURA BY BALLET MANILA

 

The restaging of Francisco Balagtas’ masterpiece is a rare opportunity to experience once again the timeless epic reimagined through myth, music and classical ballet.

  

PHILIPPINES – 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. I’m proud, but more than that, I’m moved. This ballet continues to teach us how timeless our heritage can be,”  said Lisa.

Audiences can expect the full force of Ballet Manila’s creative ensemble once again. The production features live music performed by the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth under the baton of Toma Cayabyab, interpreting the original score composed by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.

"To be able to hear the score again, seeing it move—it’s like watching a memory evolve. I wrote this as a legacy piece, but its return reminds me that legacy isn’t static. Ballet Manila has given the music new breath, and I feel grateful. This re-staging proves that our classics still have something urgent to say." said Ryan.

BALLET MANILA’S DON QUIXOTE DAZZLES WITH MARIINSKY STARS IN PH HISTORIC DEBUT

 PHILIPPINES – 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.

 

Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Kimin Kim and Renata Shakirova

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, including Moscow, Varna, and Jackson.

 

In 2011, Kim was invited to audition for the Mariinsky Ballet, where he initially struggled with cultural and language barriers but persevered through rigorous training. His debut role as Ali in Le Corsaire showcased his impeccable turns, soaring jumps, and elegant stage presence, earning him rapid promotions within the company and eventually becoming the company’s first foreign male principal dancer in 2015.

 

BALLET MANILA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND ARTISTRY WITH SWAN LAKE FEATURING SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SUPERSTARS

 

Philippines - Ballet Manila continues the celebration of its 30th Anniversary with the restaging of the beloved classic, Swan Lake featuring an exceptional roster of ballet stars from San Francisco Ballet.

“Bringing this masterpiece to life for our 30th anniversary season is very monumental as it underscores Ballet Manila’s dedication to the highest standards of classical ballet,” explains Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director.

San Francisco Ballet soloist Katherine Barkman and principal dancer Esteban Hernandez will perform Ballet Manila’s Swan Lake (photo courtesy of Renee-Olson Productions)

This is further reinforced by Swan Lake’s two pairs of powerful main leads. On May 30, 2025 (8PM), May 31, 2025 (5PM), and June 1, 2025 (5PM), the production will be led by San Francisco’s first soloist Katherine Barkman, who will return to her Ballet Manila home stage to perform the dual roles Odette (White Swan) and Odile (Black Swan). A former mentee of Macuja Elizalde and principal dancer of Ballet Manila, Barkman will wow the audience with her mesmerizing technique and emotional depth in portraying the characters.