Ballet Manila brings lyrics to life with the newest installment of “Ballet & Ballads”

A tradition in almost all Ballet Manila’s performance seasons, Ballet & Ballads, once again returns to the stage to bring music and lyrics to life. And to bring ballet to the people and the people to the ballet, the country’s premier classical dance company plans to close its current season with a star-studded affair.

Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde muses about the latest installment, “It combines a singer with ballet numbers—an interesting concept that we’ve been experimenting with for some time now. It’s an entertaining way to enjoy ballet, especially for first-time audiences.”

Heart-throb crooner Christian Bautista is set to lead the roster of singers as a guest performer. He’ll sing some of his greatest theater hits, as well as songs from his latest album.

Joining Christian are artists from the Klassikal Musical Foundation (KMF) such as Andrew Fernando (Baritone), Jade Riccio (Soprano), Stephanie Aguilar (Soprano), Krisann Manikan Tan (Mezzo Soprano), Leo Angelo Lanuza (Tenor), and with the special participation of Dr. George T. Yang (Tenor). This marks the first-ever creative partnership between the country’s premier classical dance company and KMF.

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, no less, will serenade the audience during the entire night. The acclaimed group has also prepared a very special Teleserye suite featuring a selection of classic hits from the ABS-CBN primetime repertoire. The show will surely trigger some nostalgia, especially among fans of Filipino pop culture.

Ballet & Ballads will also mark the world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s Aria, which will feature five acts covering classical operas. The British choreographer previously partnered with Ballet Manila for the highly acclaimed Rebel and Amid Shadows. Lisa shares, “He really is a genius when it comes to weaving a ballet together and exploring movement with kinds of music. The idea was first to combine musical theater and ballet. But when he proposed the classical arias instead, I told him to go for it!”

 With such a powerhouse lineup for Ballet & Ballads, the audience is set for pure enjoyment when the curtains go up in Aliw Theater. As the Prima Ballerina sums it up best, “Dancing creates a visual representation of music, and when that music is played live by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic and sung by Christian Bautista and the KMF classical singers, it complements Ballet Manila’s mastery of the Vaganova technique. It is really a concert like no other.”

 Show Schedules

The newest installment of “Ballet & Ballads” will premiere on February 10, 2018 at 6:00PM at the Aliw Theater. There will be three other shows: February 11, (3:00PM), February 17 (6:00PM), and February 18 (3:00PM).

For more information about the shows, including ticket prices and schedules, you may visit www.balletmanila.com.ph or follow Ballet Manila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tickets are also available through all TicketWorld outlets. Please call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph for more information. In addition, those who are planning to watch all the shows may take advantage of the company’s Season Subscription Programs, which offer up to 50% discount on ticket prices. For more information, you may visit www.ticketworld.com.ph/balletmanila/Online/ and click on ‘View Details’ under ‘Season Subscription Program’.

About Ballet Manila

Founded in 1995 by Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and OsiasBarroso, Ballet Manila is the country’s premier classical dance company. With the mission of connecting both ballet and the people, the company, which puts education at the forefront of its priorities, is well-known as the only Philippine dance company to adopt and strictly adhere to the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet style of dancing, which is well-regarded the world over as the most disciplined and technically-superior style. The company currently has 65 artists under its wing, all of whom have been trained in the Vaganova Academy style of dancing. Each artist boasts of a solid repertoire that consists of some of the most technically challenging and timeless ballet favorites.