Ballet Manila's Pearl Year is a captivating Swan Lake performance by international ballet stars

“Esteban is the complete package. Last year, his performance as Basilio was simply perfect. But Siegfried is a very different character—elegant, noble, restrained. He has been a principal dancer for quite some time now, so his depth of experience, technique, and artistry will work all very well for him as Prince Siegfried.” She adds, “Esteban and Katherine have already danced Swan Lake together, so I think that they will, as a principal couple, be very effective in their roles. It is a very Russian ballet, so the dancing needs to be technically strong and artistically sound. But our dance company practices the unique Vaganova training, so the over-all strength of the legs and backs of the dancers are developed by the technique, allowing the dancers to hold poses well, jump high and turn fast. This is ingrained and practiced with the dancers in daily class and translates into everyone, especially the swan corps de ballet, moving as one onstage. What I am also excited about is Nathaniel’s impending partnership with Abi. She will learn and grow so much in her interpretation of Swan lake when she explores the choreography with a new partner like Nathaniel who, height wise, is perfect for her.” ~Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and Artistic Director

Dancers are shaped into artists by time and experience, and for San Francisco Ballet's First Soloist Katherine Barkman, returning home to Ballet Manila is a celebration of her heritage and her development.  She plays the difficult dual roles of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, returning to the stage where her career started, alongside one of the most renowned figures in ballet, Esteban Hernández, principal dancer of San Francisco Ballet.

Esteban Hernández is a sensation, not just a guest artist.  Esteban, a trailblazer from Guadalajara, Mexico, received his training at The Royal Ballet School and became well-known throughout the world for his expressive storytelling and technical mastery.  He has enthralled audiences all around the world as a principal dancer for the San Francisco Ballet.  His charisma and virtuosity were initially seen by Filipino audiences in Don Quixote 2023 as Basilio.  He now makes a triumphant comeback as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.

For Katherine, this return is deeply personal. Once a principal dancer of Ballet Manila, she trained under Macuja Elizalde for over three years before joining The Washington Ballet and later the San Francisco Ballet. Now taking on Swan Lake’s duality with deeper insight, she reflects: 

“With experience comes more fearlessness. I take more risks—I would rather my dancing be exciting to watch than safe and predictable. If there’s one thing I truly believe, it is that technique is to be used to express emotion. Every step should say something.” ~Katherine Barkman, San Francisco Ballet’s First Soloist

With her strong foundation from Ballet Manila, Katherine approaches the demanding dual role with deep awareness, relying on her technique to convey the proper emotions for each character. 

For Lisa Macuja Elizalde, having played the role of Odette and Odile during her prima ballerina days gives her full awareness of how intricate it is to mount a full-length Swan Lake. 

On Ballet Manila’s Pearl Year, Macuja made sure to pull all the stops to cast two pairs of powerful main leads. Aside from Katherine and Esteban, audiences will see another take on the main characters with Ballet Manila’s principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro portraying Odette and Odile and San Francisco Ballet’s company artist Nathaniel Remez playing Prince Seigfried. 

Catch all performances from Katherine Barkman and Esteban Hernandez on May 30, 2025 at 8PM, May 31, 2025 at 5PM, and June 1, 2025 at 5PM, and matinee performances with Abigail Oliveiro and Nathaniel Remez on May 31, 2025 and June 1, 2025 at 1PM. 

May 30, 2025 - 8:00 p.m.

May 31, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.

June 1, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. 

Tickets available exclusively through Ticketworld. Direct link to buy : https://bit.ly/BM30SwanLakeBuyTickets

For group or bulk purchases and advance reservation, send an email to : balletmanilamarketing@gmail.com

All performances will be staged at Aliw Theater, Pasay City. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. To learn more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph.

Ballet Manila has been inspiring generations and exceeding expectations for 30 years

“Taking company class every day and jumping until the end of class is a must-do for everyone in the company. The rule really was no class, no rehearsal. No rehearsal, no performance. All part of the discipline needed to stay in top form to be able to dance well. He has taught so many dancers and has basically changed the landscape of male ballet dancers in the Philippines. I think we would not have survived the pandemic if we didn't have the technology to connect with other dancers and teachers through online learning. I still believe that face to face instruction and meeting inside the sacred walls of the studio is still the most effective way of learning as a dance student and teaching as a dance instructor. bringing ballet to the people and people to the ballet. To keep on dancing, one high-quality performance at a time. Every time I talk to my dancers during our Green Room before the performance begins, I always tell them to dance so well that the audience will want to come back again and again. That’s the way to keep on bringing ballet to the people and more people to the ballet. One great performance at a time that people will not want to miss! The best is always yet to come!” ~Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila's CEO and Artistic Director

Ballet Manila successfully celebrates its 30th anniversary against all obstacles and beyond all expectations, which is a monument to its tenacity, unrelenting devotion, and limitless innovation. From its modest beginnings marred by doubt and pessimism, Ballet Manila has grown to become a representation of creative brilliance and a ray of hope that has motivated innumerable others to strive hard and passionately toward their own goals.

Three decades of dedication and passion for excellence

Ballet Manila's CEO and Artistic Director, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, reflects on the journey, saying that Ballet Manila has established a legacy that speaks for itself, with the values instilled by its first artistic director, Eric V. Cruz, and her longtime co-artistic director, the late Osias Barroso Jr., at its core.

She stressed that the foundation of the company's success has been daily instruction, discipline, and putting the wellbeing of the dancers first. Over the past thirty years, Ballet Manila has accomplished several milestones thanks to these beliefs.

Her favorite classical ballets are "Swan Lake" and "La Bayadere," which featured a particularly powerful female corps de ballet, and "Reconfigured" and "Bloom," which demonstrated the strength of their male ensemble. While the Lisa Macuja Swan Song series honored a ballerina's remarkable career with live orchestral accompaniment, their specialty presentations, like "Circus De Ballet" and "Ballet and Ballads," have enthralled large audiences.

Being the first Filipino full-length ballet to do this, the company was especially proud of "Ibong Adarna"'s 2014 worldwide premiere at the Karmiel Festival in Israel. These critically acclaimed performances demonstrate how Ballet Manila's dedication to quality and artistry produces its dancers.

Many of its alumni have gone on to achieve great success in their careers. Christine Rocas, for instance, retired after being a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, Illinois for over 15 seasons. Katherine Barkman is currently a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet, and Chris Mohnani, now Managing Director of the Samsung Performing Arts Center, was a principal dancer of Nashville Ballet and former artistic director of Dance Theater of Tennessee. Jeffrey and Pamela Espejo both serve as faculty at Steps and Academy One, while Elline Damian, Aileen Gallinera, and Eduardo Espejo were principal dancers with Ballet David Campos in Barcelona, Spain. Ea Torrado has established herself as the artistic director of her dance company.

Lisa also emphasizes the current generation of teachers and dancers, such as Romeo and Sofia Peralta, Eileen Lopez, and Gerardo Francisco Jr., who are flourishing at Ballet Manila and the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet. Lisa's favorite and most accomplished pupil of all time is the late Osias Barroso Jr., who was Ballet Manila's co-artistic director before to his death.

Although Ballet Manila's dancers continue to be its mainstay, Lisa also recognizes the critical role technology plays in helping the dance group stay ahead of the competition. By shooting and documenting rehearsals and performances, it has also aided in reenacting ballets and helping with choreography memory. She did, however, also stress the value of in-person training.

Dancing into the future

Lisa has a lot to be happy about as Ballet Manila celebrates its 30th anniversary. She wants to keep enjoying her profession as an artistic director, mentor, and performer.

And with so many initiatives and plans already in the works, it's all set to go. She is currently working diligently on "PEARLS," a brand-new choreography for the Pearl Gala that honors the company's 30th anniversary. In addition, she is excited to add a fourth Princess Ballet to her Princess Trilogy. She also plans to expand their Filipino series, which now consists of "Ibong Adarna" and "Florante at Laura," to include additional literary masterpieces that were studied in college and high school.

She also intends to follow up on her "La Traviata" with another opera-based ballet, highlighting the limitless potential for future works. Additionally, anticipation is growing for their 2025 domestic and worldwide tours, which will bring Ballet Manila's beloved ballets "Ibong Adarna" and "Cinderella" to a number of domestic and foreign venues.

The best is yet to come!

Ballet Manila remains dedicated to its mission of Lisa's strategy is simple yet powerful.

With this inspiring vision, Ballet Manila is moving forward, propelled by a solid base and ongoing creativity. Ballet Manila is well-positioned for ongoing success thanks to a school that often trains and supplies the company with professional dancers, a robust social media presence, domestic and international tours, and backing from its patron Fred J. Elizalde. dance Manila reaffirms its commitment to excellence, innovation, and bringing the beauty of dance to everyone's hearts as it commemorates this significant milestone. Even though Ballet Manila's adventure started thirty years ago, it is far from over.

"The best is always yet to come!"

For more information about Ballet Manila and its upcoming performances, please visit www.balletmanila.com.ph.