Four decades later, Lisa Macuja Elizalde celebrates this milestone through Ballet Manila’s PRIMA Performance Season, a carefully curated program of classical ballet productions that reflect the company’s Vaganova roots, artistic excellence, and unwavering commitment to making ballet accessible to Filipino audiences. More than a season of performances, PRIMA stands as a tribute to the vision that began in 1986—a vision that continues to inspire generations of dancers, students, and audiences across the country.
One of the most anticipated highlights of this landmark year is a special collaboration between Ballet Manila and legendary Filipino rock band The Dawn, to be staged at Aliw Theater on February 20 and 21, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Part of the long-running Ballet & Ballads series, the production fuses classical ballet with iconic OPM rock music, reimagining some of The Dawn’s most beloved songs through expressive movement and choreography.
Both Lisa Macuja Elizalde and The Dawn are icons of their respective generations, each marking 40 years of creative influence. Their collaboration is a symbolic convergence of parallel journeys—one in ballet, the other in music—uniting different art forms to reach wider audiences. The performance underscores Ballet Manila’s continued effort to make ballet relevant, relatable, and emotionally resonant for today’s viewers.
Produced by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), Ballet & Ballads was conceptualized in Ballet Manila’s early years by Fred J. Elizalde. The series has played a vital role in the company’s advocacy by presenting ballet alongside mainstream artists and offering free or affordably priced tickets, helping remove barriers that often surround classical art forms.
Following Ballet & Ballads, the PRIMA Performance Season continues with a lineup of world-class productions. Sleeping Beauty will be staged on March 14 and 15, 2026, at Aliw Theater, accompanied live by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexander Vikulov. This will be followed by Paquita on June 20 and 21, 2026, a showcase of Ballet Manila’s classical precision and deep Vaganova heritage.
The season culminates with La Bayadère on August 22 and 23, 2026, marking the highly anticipated return of Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim of the Mariinsky Ballet. The guest artists first captivated Philippine audiences in 2025 during Ballet Manila’s staging of Don Quixote, and their return reinforces Ballet Manila’s growing international presence.
Reflecting on her 40th homecoming year, Lisa Macuja Elizalde shared, “Forty years ago, I came home with a mission to make ballet part of Filipino life. To see that vision continue through Ballet Manila and the PRIMA performance season is deeply meaningful—not just for me, but for everyone in the company. It proves that ballet can endure, adapt, and truly belong to everyone.”
Beyond the main season, Ballet Manila’s 2026 calendar includes Ibong Adarna performances in Dumaguete in February and at Ateneo’s Areté in October, an international tour in Kuala Lumpur in September, and the much-loved Holiday Cheer Series in December.
Together, these performances frame 2026 not just as a year of celebration, but as a cultural milestone—a cycle completed, a legacy fulfilled, and a future opened by a ballerina who chose to come home at the cusp of global success.
Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s 40th homecoming anniversary is more than a personal triumph. It is a testament to endurance, artistic integrity, and the fulfillment of a promise—that ballet belongs to the Filipino people.
For updates on Ballet Manila’s performance schedule and celebration events, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph or www.ticketworld.com.ph
.png)
/>
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment