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Learning ballet with Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, the prima ballerina
By RINA ANGELA CORPUS
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Photo from Ballet Manila's Facebook page
Ballet Manila holds the distinction of being the sole ballet school in the country that trains its dancers in the Russian Vaganova method, under which Macuja herself trained as a scholar of the Russian Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg.
The Vaganova method is known for its attention on the whole body, resulting in an expressive range for the body and greater harmony of movement.
Ballet Manila: Beginnings and futures
The Ballet Manila School had its beginnings in the Lisa Macuja Summer Workshop in the summer of 1995, at the Macujas' residence in Heroes Hills, Quezon City. In 1997, the school eventually moved to its present and more spacious location on Donada Street in Pasay.
"I envision to expand the school and have branches around Metro Manila and in the provinces, with the best trained students eventually going into professional careers with Ballet Manila and other companies here and abroad," Macuja says.
Last month, the school held auditions for future scholars and dancers from Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
Ballet Manila has turned out internationally acclaimed talents: alumna Christine Rocas has been a company member of the prestigious Joffrey Ballet in Chicago for the last 8 years, while Dawna Mangahas, one of Ballet Manila’s current principal dancers, was a double medalist in the 2013 Asian Grand Prix and has been in the list of Names to Watch in the Dance Europe Magazine's Critics Choice List in 2014.
Summer courses
The two-month summer intensives started on April 6 with a full-day schedule of classes on yoga, pilates, modern/contemporary, partnering and ballet.
For those who could not commit to the two-month ballet program, the school also offers a four-week Short Course Intensive, which started on April 27. This course includes classes in ballet, pre-pointes, modern/ contemporary dance and street dance for ages 9-12 & 13-up. Classes are taught by Macuja herself and a host of the school’s seasoned teachers and dancers.
The summer intensive culminates with a recital in Aliw Theater on May 31.
“I think that we have a very strong ballet presence in our country. The fact that Manila has three ballet companies alone is testament to this,” Macuja says. “What we need is more audiences for ballet performances to make our artistic professions sustainable.”
As a testament to this commitment to quality dance performance and education, Ballet Manila also partners this month with the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) to celebrate the International Dance Day Festival on April 29 at the Aliw Theater. Other ballet schools performing in this event are Ana Emata School of Classical Ballet, Dance Factory, Dance Theatre Arts, Danspace, More Than Dance School, Ridgepointe Ballet & Symmetry Dance Studio.
The school presently supports more than 40 scholars through its Project Ballet Futures program. The program provides free ballet education to elementary and high school students from public schools. — BM, GMA News
Ballet Manila's Summer Workshops will end on May 31 with a recital at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. For more information, call the Ballet Manila School at 525-5967 or 400-0292.
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