‘Lola Basyang’ proves to be a winner 
by Joseph O. Cortes
Business Mirror
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

During the holidays, Ballet Manila (BM) unveiled a new production that is sure to become a Yuletide staple like The Nutcracker. Its Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, which is based on the Anvil retelling of the classic short stories of Severino Reyes, proved to be a hit with the crowds that saw the performances all throughout December. . . Read the rest of the article

‘Basyang’ and other ballet yearenders
By Elka Krystle R. Requinta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Monday, January 12, 2009

BALLET Manila (BM) received an overwhelming standing ovation during the world premiere of “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” at the Aliw Theater. . . Read the rest of the article

Kuwento ni Basyang: Original, fascinating
By Rosalinda Orosa
Philippine Star
Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Ballet Manila’s artistic director and principal ballerina Lisa Macuja Elizalde, in her earnest search for fresh material, discovered tales by Severino Reyes in a book published by Anvil. The many tales were reduced to Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang: Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon choreographed by Osias Barroso, Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya choreographed by Lisa in collaboration with O. Barroso, E. Mandap and G. Francisco, and Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin choreographed by Tony Fabella. . .  Read the rest of the article

Ballet Manila’s “Halo-Halo Supreme” at Aliw Theater was a two-hour happy pill that left its audience feeling euphoric, even hours after the show. . . Read the rest of the article

An all-Filipino program for Ballet Manila
By Joseph O. Cortes
Business Mirror 
Thursday, September 11, 2008

BALLET Manila (BM) called the recent opener to its 2008-09 season “Halo-Halo Supreme—A Fiesta of Filipino Ballet.” Nothing could be truer. The entire evening’s program consisted entirely of original Filipino ballets, many of them company premiers. . . Read the rest of the article

Two Christmas gifts from Ballet Manila
By Joseph O. Cortes
Monday December 31, 2007

When Ballet Manila presented early last December its classic production of The Nutcracker and its balletic version of Pinocchio, they were just too much for many seasoned ballet enthusiasts. Crammed into two weekends were performances that proved that this dance company is one to reckon with. Its multiple casts for both shows only revealed the superior training its members receive. How else would you explain the ability of BM’s dancers to move from one ballet to the next, to assume multiple roles at such short notice without difficulty? Surely that’s a sign of sound teaching. . .  Read the rest of the article

Christmas ballets delight children
By Elka Krystle R. Requinta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Monday December 24, 2007

MANILA, Philippines - This December, ballet restagings of two well-loved children’s classics left the young in open-mouthed wonder, proving the timelessness of both productions: Ballet Philippines’ (BP) “Snow White” and Ballet Manila’s “Pinocchio.”. . .  Read the rest of the article

An impressive ‘Swan Lake’ from Ballet Manila
By Joseph O. Cortes
Monday October 15, 2007

Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde proved herself wrong when she declared two years ago that she was no longer up to the rigors of dancing the twin roles of Odette and Odile. In the second production for its 2007-2008 season, Ballet Manila restaged its popular production of Swan Lake, with three casts assuming the different roles. Apart from Macuja-Elizalde and guest Russian danseur Maxim Chashchegorov, the other casts featured company members in the leads — ballerina Mylene Aggabao, and danseurs Rudy de Dios and Nazer Salgado. . .  Read the rest of the article

No Swan song (yet for Lisa Macuja)
By Angela Blardony Ureta
The Manila Times
Sunday September 30, 2007

WHEN prima ballerina Lisa Macuja released her autobiography Ballerina of the People last year, many wondered if it was the prelude to her retirement. After all, she has been the country’s foremost classical ballet dancer for two decades and had witnessed many of her contemporaries make their final curtain call. Two of her favorite partners, Ballet Philippines premier danseur Nonoy Froilan and Ballet Manila principal Osias Barroso, have long left the stage to pursue other interests—Froilan is now a successful filmmaker and dance videographer, while Barroso has evolved into a formidable teacher and promising choreographer. . .  Read the rest of the article

Ballet Manila shines in modern dances
By Joseph O. Cortes
Monday September 10, 2007

Ballet Manila never ceases to amaze in its ability to put on shows for its loyal audience. Aside from regularly staging productions of classic ballets, it has also been commissioning new pieces to provide dances that are in tune with the 21st century. Not only do these offer Manila’s ballet-going public an opportunity to discover dance styles around the world, but they also offer BM’s company of dancers a chance to shine at their most creative and innovative mode. . .  Read the rest of the article

Ballet Manila’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is mesmerizing
By Elka Krystle R. Requinta
The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Monday March 12, 2007

MANILA, Philippines - IN BALLET, you either grab or mesmerize your audience. As a result, you get screams and thunderous applause for the former, or exalted applause for the latter. . .  Read the rest of the article

Ballet Manila breathes new life into “Romeo and Juliet”
By Joseph O. Cortes
The Philippine Star
Monday, February 26, 2007

Of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, none has attracted as much attention and discussion as Romeo and Juliet. This tale of star-crossed lovers from feuding families has inspired countless generations of lovers and artists since it was first performed in 17th century England. The list of adaptations of Shakespeare’s original is long, and includes dramas, operas, ballets and songs. There are also a number of movie adaptations of the original play, as well as films that were inspired by its story. . .  Read the rest of the article

Thrilling ‘La Bayadere’ opens Ballet Manila’s 11th season
By Joseph O. Cortes
The Philippine Star
Monday, August 28, 2006

The thrill of going to the ballet lies in seeing memorable scenes of graceful ballerinas twirling like tops and leaping in the air. Beauties dressed in pristine white tutus send many ballet goers into rapture. For many of them, just the sight of the corps de ballet is reason to be in the theater. Think of the lake of swans in Swan Lake, the forest of Willis in Giselle, the snowflakes in The Nutcracker, and the kingdom of shades in La Bayadere. Ballet goers in Manila have been fortunate to regularly witness productions of these ballets. . .  Read the rest of the article

Ballet Manila triumphs in ‘Don Quixote’
By Joseph O. Cortes
Monday, March 6, 2006

She thought she had danced her last Kitri two years ago, but Lisa Macuja-Elizalde surprised herself when she found herself once again dancing this demanding role last month when Ballet Manila ended its 2005-2006 season with the popular "Don Quixote." . . . Read the rest of the article

YEKATERINBURG — Ballet Manila, one of the Philippines’ foremost classical dance companies schooled in Russian techniques, made a well-applauded debut recently in Yekaterinburg, an industrial city best known as the site of the martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas II and his family during the Russian Revolution. . .  Read the rest of the article