Ballet Manila teen dancers stand out in Russia
At first glance, they appear to be ordinary teens giggling as they recall a memorable travel abroad. But Nicole Barroso, Marinette Franco, Alvin Dictado and Joshua Enciso are anything but ordinary. These four young people are ballet dancers who have spent much of their formative years learning classical ballet.
Donning their Filipiniana attire, the BM team attends the Dance Open reception
proudly carrying the country’s colors.
They have just recently arrived from Russia where they represented Ballet Manila in the prestigious Dance Open International Ballet Festival. And in a country where ballet is sacred, they received the most thunderous applause for their performance at the festival’s Young Stars Gala.
It almost didn’t happen, confided Ballet Manila’s co-artistic director Osias “Shaz” Barroso who headed the team to Russia. When the invitation arrived, the company was attending to so many activities. Swamped with work, preparing the official reply as well as gathering all the requirements took time to put together. But the submission made the deadline. Ballet Manila’s artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde chose Nicole and Marinette, while Shaz picked Alvin and Joshua to represent The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Manila.
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (fourth from left) sends off the team to Russia composed of (from left) Joshua Enciso, Marinette Franco, BM co-artistic director Osias Barroso,
Nicole Barroso and Alvin Dictado.
Marinette admitted to feeling apprehensive leading up to their departure.
“We kept thinking that it is the name of Ballet Manila that we would be carrying. It was nerve-wracking to think that we might do something wrong and endanger the company’s good name.”
It may have been their first time in Russia, but it was hard for the four teens not to feel at home. Upon arrival, the team was met at the airport by Andrei Katuntsev, Ballet Manila’s first foreign company member, wearing an official BM shirt from his stint with the company back in 1996. With that welcome, the hospitality extended by the Russians and having lunch at a popular burger chain, St. Petersburg was foreign but somehow felt familiar.
Andrei Katuntsev, Ballet Manila’s first foreign company member, wears an official BM shirt from 1996
to welcome the BM delegates
It became far more familiar when their classes at the Dance Open began.
“The classes were the same,” said Joshua. “We were so happy to discover that it was exactly the same as what we were taught in BM.”
Joshua Enciso, Marinette Franco, Nicole Barroso and Alvin Dictado strike a pose in St. Petersburg.
And this, said Shaz, was as it should be. After all, the company learned the Vaganova method directly from Lisa who studied at the then Leningrad Choreographic Institute under Tatiana Alexandrovna Udalenkova from 1982 to 1984. During the company’s early years, Tatiana would visit the Philippines and give classes as well as impart valuable lessons both to the dancers and the production team.
Immersing in the rich culture, Nicole, Marinette and Ballet Manila’s co-artistic director Osias Barroso attempt to replicate a work of art.
One of the trip’s highlights was when the team met with the legendary Tatiana at the Vaganova Russian Academy. There, they were able to see the premises where Lisa herself had studied and even watch a pas de deux examination. Also with Tatiana’s help, the typically restricted Vaganova Museum at the school was opened for them, allowing them to have their photos taken with the portrait of Agrippina Vaganova, after whom the name and technique was named. The kids reveled in the rich history of ballet – a history that they have inherited through Lisa.
One of the trip’s highlights is meeting the Russian dance legend Tatiana Alexandrovna Udalenkova,
the mentor of BM’s founder and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.
“They all know her,” said Nicole. “Everywhere we went, when they find out where we came from, they would immediately say her name. They had memories of her performances. It made us feel more pressured to make her proud.”
But things are changing in Russia and the ballet is no exception.
“Russia has opened up. When I went there before, it was the transition period. It was still communist. Now, it’s really very capitalist so the students – and ballet – have changed because the influence of the west came in. I would say that BM right now is preserving the old ways more – the culture and the attitude. After this recent visit to Russia, I made a pledge to myself that in my remaining years as a dance teacher, I will preserve the old school,” said Shaz.
Alvin attends a master class.
It was precisely this dedication to the old ways that made the young dancers of Ballet Manila stand out. Shaz said that in the classes they attended, his wards had no problem performing the steps while many of their fellow students struggled to keep up. Seemingly stern words spoken to the four by their instructors made them worry that they were making mistakes, only to find out from Shaz that they were actually being complimented on their performance.
Come show time, Nicole, Marinette, Alvin and Joshua performed Gerardo Francisco’s Tara Let’s to a critical audience that recognized how extraordinary it was – the combination of technique, choreography and passion displayed by the Filipino dancers. The applause at the Hermitage Theatre was deafening.
Nicole shows her form, honed through years training with Ballet Manila.
“In the beginning, we thought it was Sir Shaz who started the clapping. But he later told us that he couldn’t possibly do so because he was holding a camera to record the event,” shared Alvin.
Shaz expressed satisfaction with the participation of Ballet Manila in Dance Open. “Because of exposure like this, our dancers get confirmation about our training in BM. I myself witnessed how the training and corrections in Russia are similar to what we do in BM. We are very fortunate because Tatiana Udalenkova and Lisa set a very high standard for all of us.”
Marinette joins dancers from other countries for a master class.
Moreover, Shaz said attending festivals like Dance Open affirms the BM culture that is imparted to students and company members. “Dress code is strictly observed, punctuality and professionalism are also imposed. I truly feel that joining festivals like this helps us hone our dancers to become ideal members of Ballet Manila.”
Although she wasn’t there with the Ballet Manila delegation, back home, Lisa received reports of the consistently good feedback the dancers were receiving in Russia. “It was clear from the very beginning that they would be the festival favorites – both in the technique classes where our four students showed strong technique and polished style and in their exciting performance of Gerardo Francisco's Tara Let's. I was told that the entire delegation did very well and was constantly showered with praise and positive comments from the festival guest teachers, administrators and other participants.”
Joshua (right) poses with Alvin (left) and one of their peers, Nikita, at Dance Open.
For her, Dance Open was a wonderful opportunity for BM to shine as a school with very strong Russian Vaganova technique and style. Like with her own experiences as a student in Russia and later as a soloist with the Kirov Ballet, Lisa wanted the young dancers’ visit to have a meaningful impact on them.
“It is important to invest in life-changing experiences for our deserving scholars and students and at the same time, show the world what a thriving dance community we have in the Philippines. My own youthful experiences in St. Petersburg were life-changing. I wanted to give that to our young dancers in the hope that they give the same value and learning as we continue our mission and vision for Ballet Manila.”
Even weeks after their return, Marinette admitted she is still unable to believe that the whole experience really took place. Indeed, it was a triumphant week for the young dancers in Russia. But back in Manila, life goes on. After the applause, it’s back to the barre to practice more.
The young dancers feel at home in Russia after having lunch at a familiar burger joint.
Though it was just a week, the experience was enough to change the outlook of not just the four participants but their classmates who stayed in Manila as well. Shaz noted that their fellow students started performing more diligently in class, putting in extra hours to improve their technique with the experience of their colleagues serving as an inspiration.
But the change is most evident in the four. While the playfulness remains, there is a newfound confidence that they exude.
Joshua summed it up best. “I’ve become fearless in performing the steps because I know that what I’ve been taught and what I’m doing is the same Vaganova technique in Russia.”
The team performs Tara Let’s at the Hermitage Theatre, earning wild cheers and thunderous applause.
