After a critically acclaimed world
premiere marked by overwhelming audience
response, Ballet Manila’s Florante at Laura returns to Aliw
Theater, with performances scheduled on October 3 at 8:00 PM, and October 4 and 5 at
5:00 PM.
For Ballet Manila’s founder and artistic director Lisa
Macuja-Elizalde, the return of Florante at Laura is not a rerun
but a reckoning with our collective appreciation of our Filipino heritage. It
is a rare opportunity to experience once again Francisco Balagtas’ timeless
epic reimagined through myth, music and dance. Lisa has long championed
Filipino storytelling through classical ballet, and this re-staging affirms
that vision with renewed clarity.
“Bringing Florante at Laura back to the stage feels like coming
full circle. The first run was a dream realized; the second at Areté affirmed
that Filipino stories, when told with care and conviction, truly resonate. Now,
with this third staging, it feels less like a return and more like a reckoning.
I’m proud, but more than that, I’m moved. This ballet continues to teach us how
timeless our heritage can be,” said Lisa.
Audiences can expect the full force of Ballet Manila’s creative
ensemble once again. The production features live music performed by the Orchestra
of the Filipino Youth under the baton of Toma Cayabyab, interpreting the
original score composed by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.
"To be able to hear the score again, seeing it move—it’s like watching a memory
evolve. I wrote this as a legacy piece, but its return reminds me that legacy
isn’t static. Ballet Manila has given the music new breath, and I feel
grateful. This re-staging proves that our classics still have something urgent
to say." said Ryan.
Choreographers Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Martin Lawrance collaborate anew to shape the ballet’s emotional terrain, drawing out the tension
and tenderness within Balagtas’ verse. The libretto, adapted by Dr. Michael
Coroza, anchors the production in language that bridges tradition and movement.
Transporting the audiences back to the
kingdom of Berbania, set designer Mio Infante and
costume designer Therese Arroyo also
return to define the ballet’s visual language.
Drawing from Persian motifs and Filipino sensibilities, their work complements the
choreography and narrative, shaping a world that moves in step with the story.
This October, Ballet Manila invites audiences to return—not just
to the theater, but to the heart of a national epic. For those who missed it,
this is your moment. For those who came, it’s time to feel it again. Live,
urgent, and unmistakably Filipino.
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
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