Quezon City, Philippines - Ballet Manila and ARETÉ, Ateneo De Manila University's hub of creativity and innovation, have partnered to promote the appreciation and accessibility of classical ballet in northern and eastern Manila.
The partnership, recently announced at Hyundai Hall within ADMU's ARETÉ, enables both institutions to collaborate on a series of shows scheduled for this venue. This initiative aims to provide an additional venue for Filipinos, particularly for audiences and potential talents residing in Quezon City and nearby regions, to enjoy Ballet Manila's performances and their regular shows at Aliw Theater.
ARETÉ is a generative space housing theaters, art galleries, studios, laboratories, maker spaces, teaching and meeting rooms, and various open areas. This multipurpose environment fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse groups representing various fields and disciplines.
Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila's artistic director and chief executive officer, expressed that the collaboration with Ateneo's ARETÉ is timely. Following the conclusion of its 25th performance season, the company is eager to build on its momentum by co-producing additional shows aimed at reaching a wider audience. Ballet Manila remains committed to making ballet accessible to the public and fostering a greater appreciation for this art form.
Dr. Ricardo Abad, ARETÉ's artistic director, anticipates collaborating with Ballet Manila will foster greater interest in the performing arts among Filipinos. He has long explored partnerships like this for ARETÉ and was delighted to discover that Macuja-Elizalde shares a similar vision for Ballet Manila. Dr. Abad believes this partnership will strengthen their creative and social objectives as they engage with a broader spectrum of audiences and communities.
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 hinted at their plans for 2024, which encompass a collaboration with the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet and diverse, immersive learning opportunities in dance, among other initiatives.
Know more about Ballet Manila, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ and ARETE https://arete.ateneo.edu/
