Ballet Manila is set to make Philippine ballet history with the country’s first-ever full-length staging of the classical masterpiece Paquita, opening this June at Aliw Theater in Pasay City.
Choreographed by Ballet Manila founder and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the landmark production will be staged on June 19 at 8:00 p.m. and June 20 to 21 at 5:00 p.m.
A celebrated cornerstone of classical ballet, Paquita is rarely performed in its complete form due to the scale and complexity of the production. For Macuja Elizalde, however, the ballet’s dramatic storytelling makes it especially appealing to Filipino audiences.
“Quite like a soap opera, with twists and turns that are amusing and entertaining — perfect for Filipinos who love a great story or telenovela,” she shared.
Set in Spain, Paquita follows the story of a young Romani woman who saves the life of French officer Lucien from an assassination plot orchestrated by a governor. Along the way, Paquita uncovers her noble heritage, allowing the couple to overcome social barriers and ultimately find their happy ending.
The idea for the full production began after Ballet Manila presented Paquita’s grand divertissement during the company’s Pearl Gala celebration in March 2025.
“When I finally read it in full, I decided that it would be exciting and perfectly manageable to present a two-act classical ballet to the Filipino audience,” Macuja Elizalde explained.
While honoring the ballet’s classical roots, she deliberately avoided watching existing productions in order to shape a version uniquely her own.
“I started to build the ballet chapter by chapter in my head,” she said. “But the actual creation didn’t happen until I was in the studio in front of the dancers.”
The production also highlights Ballet Manila’s strong Russian ballet foundation, with its 40-member ensemble tackling the ballet’s technically demanding choreography.
Alternating in the lead roles of Paquita and Lucien are principal dancers Joshua Enciso and Abigail Oliveiro, alongside soloists Shamira Drapete and Jos David Andes.
For Oliveiro, portraying Paquita has offered an opportunity to explore a lighter and more playful side of her artistry.
“I realized I had to tap into my more playful side which, dare I say, is not a common theme in a lot of my repertoire,” she shared. “So I’m certainly enjoying being playful.”
She also described working with Macuja Elizalde as both collaborative and inspiring.
“She is very clear in what she wants while keeping an open mind,” Oliveiro said. “I try to listen and observe what Ma’am Lisa wants from the ballet, character, or scene so I can understand her vision and fulfill it.”
Ultimately, Ballet Manila hopes the production will leave audiences entertained, emotionally moved, and energized by the grandeur of classical ballet.
“I hope the audience will laugh at the comedic scenes and swoon in the romantic ones, as well as stand up and scream during the technically difficult portions,” Macuja Elizalde said. “I hope the audience comes out of the theater smiling and humming the music.”
Tickets and performance updates are available through Ballet Manila Official Website and TicketWorld.
