Ballet is a beautiful art form that should be shared and appreciated by many. It is with this thought that the country’s premiere classical ballet company Ballet Manila, and ARETÉ, the hub of creativity and innovation within Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), have partnered to make classical ballet more accessible to audiences in northern and eastern Manila.
The partnership, recently unveiled at the Hyundai Hall, ARETÉ inside ADMU, will allow the two institutions to co-produce a series of shows that will take place in the said venue. With this, more Filipinos, especially those from Quezon City and nearby areas, will have an alternative venue to watch Ballet Manila shows, apart from its home in Aliw Theater.
ARETÉ is a generative space that features theaters, art galleries, studios, laboratories, a makerspace, teaching and meeting rooms, and several open areas. The space allows groups from different fields and disciplines to create, collaborate, and share knowledge, skills, and practices.
“Ballet Manila’s partnership with Ateneo’s ARETÉ came at a very opportune time,” shared Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s artistic director and chief executive officer. “Fresh from concluding our 25th performance season, we’re looking to sustain the momentum by co-producing more shows that will reach a broader audience base. Bringing ballet to the people and more people to the ballet has always been Ballet Manila’s mission and vision.”
For ARETE’s artistic director Dr. Ricardo Abad, the partnership with Ballet Manila is one that he hopes will help create interest in the performance arts among more Filipinos. “I’ve been dreaming of a partnership like this for Areté and I was thrilled to know that Lisa had a similar vision for Ballet Manila. This partnership will strengthen our creative and social missions as we strive to reach out to diverse publics and communities. Join us in this effort.”
To kick-off the partnership will be the re-staging of Martin Lawrance’s modern and Filipinized iteration of “Romeo & Juliet”; which was part of Ballet Manila’s recently concluded 25th performance season, “Of Hope & Homecoming”. Show dates are on September 16, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and September 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the Hyundai Hall, ARETÉ in Ateneo de Manila University. Tickets to the shows are available through Ticketworld at www.ticketworld.com.ph
Areté and Ballet Manila have also hinted at its plans for 2024, which include a collaboration with the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet and providing various immersive learning opportunities in dance, among others.