Ballet Manila's 20th anniversary show, "BM 2.0" is not just a celebration of classical and well-loved dance pieces.

Ballet Manila is one of the newest but the best ballet organization in the Philippines so far. - Lisa Macuja -Elizalde

Isa yan sa mga mapangahas na mensahe na ipinarating ni Lisa Macuja -Elizalde during the prescon ng kanilang Ballet Manila Anniversary kung saan ang tema ay ang BM 2.0. Aaminin ko ito ang una kung pagkakataon na makapanood ng Ballet Manila at ito rin ang una kung pagkakataon na maimbitahan ng Ballet Manila staff para tignan ang ilan sa mga pasilip na mangyayari sa kanilang anniversary show.

Ang isang magaling na performing artist ay di lamang magsayaw sa iilang tao, sa tv halimbawa.. Di lang sa mga audience na makakabili lang ng show mo. Bakit ka magsasayaw para lamang sampung tao, magsayaw ka para sa lahat. - Lisa Macuja -Elizalde


Isa sa mga mission ni Lisa Macuja -Elizalde ay to bring people to the ballet and bring ballet to the people.

Kaya naman di na ako magtataka kung bakit naturingang isang magaling na prima ballerina ng Pilipinas sa kanyang henerasyon marahil nakita din niya ang isang kahalagaan ng isang ordinaryong ballet sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa.

At sino naman ang di nakakakilala kay Lisa Macuja -Elizalde? Para sa di nakakaalam si Lisa Macuja -Elizalde ay isang magaling na balerina ng Ballet Manila kung saan isa siya sa mga principal dancer nito noong 1995, kung saan noong mga panahon na iyon ang 12 dancer pa lamang at wala pa silang sariling studio, nagprapractice lamang sila sa bahay ng magulang ni Lisa sa Quezon City na kung tutuusin ay di sapat ang espasyo para makapagpractice sila ngunit subalit hindi naman naging hadlang yun upang magprosige sila sa kanilang mga pangarap. Kaya naman tuwing lumalaki ang grupo ay palipat-lipat sila ng bahay o naghahanap sila ng studio na pwede nilang magamit. Pero ika nga ng isang kasabihan "kung wala kang tyaga sa mga gusto mong gawin wala kang mararating pero kung kaya mo hanggang dulo tiyak mapapasayo ito".

Isa sa mga natanung during the prescon ay kung anu nga ba ang pinagkaibahan ng Ballet Manila sa ibang Ballet Organization?

"What makes us different from other companies is our commitment to the highest standards of classical ballet based on our Russian Vaganova roots,' Lisa said.

So ibig lamang ipahiwatig nito na tradisyonal pa rin ang ginagamit ng Ballet Manila mula sa lumang istilo kung paano ang tamang tayo at kumpas ng mga paa at kamay nito. Isa rin sa mga highlight ng Ballet Manila ay ang partnership nito sa ibang bansa katulad na lamang ng Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Higit sa lahat ay mula sa 12 ay naging 50 professional ballet dancer na sila at di lamang yun pagsinabi mong Ballet Manila isa sa mga papasok sa iyong kaisipan ay ang mga lalaki sapagkat ang Ballet Manila ay mas madaming lalaki kumpara sa mga babae.

The highlights of Ballet Manila 20th Anniversary 

According to Lisa Macuja -Elizalde, "BM 2.0" will also feature the company's global initiatives via artistic collaborations with international choreographers. The concert marks the world premier of "Bloom" by Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. "Through the years Ballet Manila has worked with various international artists. 'Bloom' is actually Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's first work for an Asian dance company."

Paquita

Paquita is a testaments to Ballet Manila's Russian Vaganova roots. A traditional and powerful piece. Paquita was staple in shows during the early years of Ballet.

Ecole

Ecole a piece about their daily grind from the warm-up exercises to their stage performance. "Ecole" was created by BM co-artistic director Osias Barroso and was first performed in 1999. It has become a “rite of passage” for two generations of BM dancers. According to Lisa, "Ecole" is doubly significant because it ushers in a new generation of local talent. "It will focus on the next generation of dancers. It will also show the future of Ballet Manila because it will feature our top students and scholars from both the BM School and Project Ballet Futures," she said.

Tara Let's

As a fitting tribute to their mission, the company will do "Tara Let's" which showcases Filipino music and choreography. "This reaffirms our commitment to bring the ballet to the people and people to the ballet. It was originally done by BM principal artist Gerardo Francisco. For me this is the best and awesome finally of the Ballet Manila not just because I love OPM but because how they combine the pop culture dance to the traditional dance of Ballet.

“BM 2.0” goes on stage on February 28, 7:30 p.m. and March 1, 3:00 p.m. at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891 9999.

So don't forget to watch the opening night of the BM 2.0 of Ballet Manila!

See you in the theater!!

Photos provide by Erickson Dela Cruz