World-renowned ballet superstars from the prestigious Mariinsky Ballet, Renata Shakirova and Alexei Timofeyev, will be coming to Manila for a rare Philippine performance in the restaging of Ballet Manila’s Giselle set to happen at the Aliw Theater on August 31, 2024 at 8pm and September 1, 2024 at 5 pm.
This much-awaited collaboration with the Russian superstars of ballet once again highlights Ballet Manila’s artistry and keen eye for excellence in every production, by working with world-class performers – this time for Giselle. This very special collaboration was made possible by Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s artistic director and chief executive officer, and her close ties with the Mariinsky Ballet (formerly Kirov Ballet) where she also trained and became the first foreign soloist in the mid-80s. She shared, “The fact that we are collaborating with guest artists and star performers Renata Shakirova and Alexsei Timofeyev will always bring out the best in the company.”
With their star power, Macuja Elizalde couldn’t be more excited for their rendition of the well-loved Giselle. “I think that Renata’s true romantic style of dancing and the fact that she is dancing with her real-life prince Alexei is going to transform Ballet Manila’s Giselle to a Giselle of another level,” she adds. The world-renowned Russian dancers, incidentally, are married to each other in real life.
Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Renata joined Mariinsky Ballet, one of the leading dance companies in the world, upon her graduation in 2015 and was immediately given her first principal role as Kitri in Don Quixote. That same year, she was listed among the 25 to Watch by Dance Magazine. And in 2016, she competed in the Bolshoi Ballet Competition, where she won first prize.
Meanwhile, Leningrad-born Alexei joined Mariinsky Ballet in 2004 and is currently the soloist of the dance company. As a soloist, he managed to secure various awards under his belt, including prize-winner at the VII International Ballet Competition in Seoul in 2010; diploma-recipient at the XVI International Rudolf Nureyev Ballet Festival in 2010 where he was cited for his superb levels of professionalism and contribution to the development of ballet in the Republic of Bashkortostan; and diploma-recipient at the XI International Ballet Dancers’ and Choreographers’ Competition in Moscow in 2009.
While it is their first time to perform on the Philippine stage, Renata is looking forward to connecting with the Filipino audience through her performance. “What’s important to be able to connect with the audience, wherever they are, but especially with a Filipino audience, is to highlight the small nuances that are included in the performance, like the turn of the head or the eye-to-eye contact with your partner, so that the emotions in the story can be conveyed and that the audience can enjoy the show.”
Meanwhile, Alexei excitedly looks forward to performing in front of a new audience, as he noted, “We are feeling the good kind of vibes with the Filipino audience, and we want them to live the story of Giselle with us on stage. It’s going to be our first time, and we hope to share that special experience with all of them.”
The third offering of Ballet Manila’s 26th performance season, dubbed Ballet Masterpieces, Giselle is a classic love story of a village girl (Giselle) who falls in love with Albrecht, not knowing he is already engaged. When she finds out, she dies of a broken heart and becomes a wili, joining the souls of girls who are also wronged by their men. Meanwhile, Albrecht visits the grave of Giselle, who protects him from Myrtha, the vengeful queen of the wilis.
Complementing their performances is a dynamic ensemble made up of young and veteran dancers from Ballet Manila, which, according to Macuja Elizalde, is the main change for the restaging of Giselle. “Ballet Manila Corps de Ballet is made up of more young members who have just joined the company post-pandemic – standing side by side with Ballet Manila dancers who are “veterans” and have performed the ballet many times before.”
The two-act ballet will interestingly showcase the talents of real-life couples both on and off stage. Ballet Manila’s principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo will headline the performance on August 31 at 1pm while the world-renowned duo Renata and Alexei will take on the title roles on August 31 at 8pm and September 1 at 5pm.