Ballet Manila concludes PRIMA season with La Bayadere

"Ballet Manila is the only company in the Philippines with this kind of superior ensemble. That is why it deserves its place in our 31st performance season. That made me proud—not just of Renata and Kimin, but of our dancers, our school, and our thirty-one years of building a company that can hold its own on the global stage." ~Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila Founder and Artistic Director

A temple dancer's devotion. A warrior's split heart. A priest's ravenous desire. Their story alternates between passion and betrayal, life and the afterlife. A rare full-length production of Marius Petipa's timeless classic, La Bayadère, will take place at the Aliw Theater on August 14 at 8:00 p.m., marking the culmination of Ballet Manila's PRIMA Season. and 5:00 p.m. on August 15 and 16.

Set in ancient India, La Bayadère tells the story of Nikiya, a temple dancer bound by love, and Solor, a warrior torn between duty and passion. Their fates are linked to Gamzatti, the rajah's daughter, and the High Brahmin, whose aspirations lead to tragedy and betrayal. The ballet is set in opulent courts and sacred temples before disappearing into the ethereal Kingdom of the Shades.

The founder and artistic director of Ballet Manila, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, returned to the Philippines from Russia forty years ago this year. Being the first foreign soloist of the Kirov Ballet, which is now known as Mariinsky Ballet, was her greatest achievement there. Presenting this full-length masterpiece as PRIMA's crown jewel has enormous personal significance.  Among the great "white ballets," she says, are La Bayadère, Giselle, and Swan Lake.

These classic pieces are known for their surreal scenes where ballerinas dressed in white move in perfect unison, exposing every line and detail. For Lisa, La Bayadère represents the highest level of expertise. The Kingdom of the Shades scene in Act III is considered the pinnacle of artistic skill and discipline worldwide. She is confident, tho, that Ballet Manila's corps de ballet is ready.

The production is led by two of the biggest stars of the Mariinsky Ballet, Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim. In Don Quixote (2025), their well-known partnership captivated Manila. They reappear in familiar roles as Solor and Nikiya.

"Every part I feel deep inside me. All the emotions of Nikiya, I feel I live through. Onstage, we believe in each other completely. That trust allows us to dance not only with technique, but with emotion. I love seeing their eyes burning with excitement and watching them discover us in new roles." ~Renata Shakirova, Mariinsky Prima Ballerina

Alongside her, Kimin Kim—renowned for his gravity-defying leaps—sees Solor as a role defined by emotional truth rather than technical feats.

"Technique is supposed to be there already from the very beginning. I try to make it all look easy, so the technique doesn't look like work. More important is that I can show emotion and the depth of the character. From my very first rehearsal, I felt as though we had already been dancing together for years. That family atmosphere makes performing here unforgettable. I hope Renata and I can return to Ballet Manila and the Philippines again and again." ~Kimin Kim, Mariinsky Prima Ballerina

Mariinsky prima ballerina Renata Shakirova gives the character vulnerable humanity and embraces Nikiya's emotional journey. Their partnership, built on complete trust, transforms choreography into conversation.

For Lisa, collaborations like these continue to elevate Ballet Manila. She recalls audience members from Korea and Germany traveling to Manila for Don Quixote, then praising Ballet Manila alongside the world's finest companies. 

Renata says she gladly returns for Ballet Manila's family atmosphere and the warmth of Filipino audiences. 

As PRIMA draws to a close, La Bayadère stands as both a showcase of world-class ballet and a testament to what happens when extraordinary artistry meets genuine collaboration. Ballet Manila invites audiences to experience a rare masterpiece brought to life by internationally celebrated artists alongside a company proudly standing on the global stage.

Keep up-to-date with Ballet Manila’s schedule of performances and celebration events by visiting Ballet Manila’s website www.balletmanila.com.ph or Ticketworld page www.ticketworld.com.ph