Ballet Manila’s Florante at Laura returns to Aliw Theater after a critically acclaimed world premiere. The re-staging of Francisco Balagtas’ timeless epic is a rare opportunity to experience it through myth, music, and classical ballet. The show, which was championed by Ballet Manila’s founder and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, is not a rerun but a reckoning with the collective appreciation of Filipino heritage. Macuja-Elizalde believes that the third staging of Florante at Laura is a reckoning with the past, showcasing the timeless nature of Filipino stories when told with care and conviction. The ballet continues to teach us how timeless our heritage can be, making it a testament to the power of storytelling through classical ballet.
Audiences can again expect the full force of Ballet Manila’s creative ensemble. 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 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 audience 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 to the theater and 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, learn more about Ballet Manila and its shows at www.balletmanila.com.ph
