Ballet Manila celebrates love and triumph with historic
full-length world premiere of Paquita
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| Ballet Manila principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Joshua Enciso |
Filipino audiences have long embraced stories of sweeping romance, hidden identities, and hard-won triumph. Ballet Manila now brings these themes to life in a landmark moment: the country’s first ever, full length staging of the classical masterpiece Paquita. Choreographed by the company’s founder and artistic director, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the production goes onstage at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City, with performances on June 19 at 8:00 p.m. and June 20–21 at 5:00 p.m.
Though Paquita is a cornerstone of
classical ballet, it is rarely performed in its entirety. And because of its dramatic narrative, Lisa believes
that it will be
remarkably relatable, to the Filipino.
Lisa describes the narrative as “quite like a soap opera, with twists
and turns that are amusing and entertaining which is perfect for Filipinos who love a great
story or telenovela.”
Set in Spain, the story follows a young
Romani woman who saves the life of a French officer, Lucien, from a governor’s
assassination plot. Along the
way, she discovers her own noble heritage, allowing the couple to overcome
rigid social barriers and marry in a happy ending that many Filipinos love.
The journey to this landmark production
began in March 2025, when Paquita’s grand divertissement was performed
during Ballet Manila’s Pearl Gala celebration. The brief excerpt sparked a
deeper curiosity in Lisa as she recalled starting to dig into the story behind
the ballet excerpt: “When I finally read it in full, I decided that it would be
exciting and perfectly manageable to present a two-act classical ballet to the
Filipino audience.”
While the production honors its
classical roots, Macuja Elizalde intentionally avoided watching existing
versions to keep her choreography entirely her own. “I started to build the
ballet chapter by chapter in my head," she explained. "But the actual
creation didn’t happen until I was in the studio in front of the dancers.”
Working closely with her team has
reinforced Ballet Manila’s strong Russian ballet foundation. Lisa noted that
the company’s 40-member ensemble is the perfect size to handle the intricate,
challenging choreography. At the heart of this production, two luminous pairs
alternate in the main characters
role: Joshua Enciso with Abigail Oliveiro, both principal dancers, and Shamira
Drapete with Jos David Andes, both soloists. Together they embody the dual
spirit of Paquita and Lucien, bringing fresh brilliance to one of classical
ballet’s most dazzling showcases.
For Oliveiro, stepping into the shoes of
Paquita under Lisa’s guidance has been an incredibly rewarding and
collaborative experience, “It is always a good experience, and she is very
clear in what she wants while keeping an open mind," Oliveiro shared.
"I try to listen and observe what Ma'am Lisa wants from the ballet,
character, or scene so I can understand her vision and fulfill it.”
The role also offers Oliveiro a rare
chance to showcase a different side of her artistry. “I realized I had to tap
into my more playful side which, dare I say, is not a common theme in a lot of
my repertoire," she added. "So I’m certainly enjoying being playful.”
Ultimately, the creative team and cast
hope the production leaves audiences feeling uplifted and delighted. As Lisa
concludes: “I hope the audience will laugh at the comedic scenes and swoon in
the romantic ones; as well as stand up and scream during the technically
difficult portions! I hope the audience comes out of the theater smiling and
humming the music.”
The Philippine ballet scene will reach
another milestone with the historic world premiere of Paquita on June 19
at 8:00 p.m., June 20 & 21 at 5:00 p.m. Keep
up-to-date with Ballet Manila’s schedule of performances and celebration events
by visiting Ballet Manila’s website balletmanila.com.ph or Ticketworld page www.ticketworld.com.ph.
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What a wonderful milestone for Ballet Manila! Come and play space waves if you enjoy testing your skills.
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