The Show Must Go On: Patrons Show Support for Ballet Manila After the Aliw Theater Fire

On October 2, 2019, a massive fire razed areas of the CCP Complex, including the amusement park Star City, the Star Theater and Aliw Theater, as well as the Manila Broadcasting Company building. The Aliw Theater had served as the home of Ballet Manila, the dance company founded by Lisa Macuja Elizalde. That day, it was unsure as to whether or not the company’s 24th Season performances would push through. Uncertainties were finally cleared last night when Ballet Manila posted an official announcement.

More: Massive Fire Damages Aliw Theater, the Home of Ballet Manila

“Our 24th performance season, 'On Pointe,' continues with one performance of Giselle on October 17, 2019, 8:00 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater,” the announcement read.

This one-night-only performance is thanks to the support of different ballet patrons, as mentioned in Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Facebook post:

“There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support and assistance to Ballet Manila! Chris Millado called to offer a venue grant of the CCP Main Theater; Margie Moran Floirendo called to offer to lend the sets and backdrops of Ballet Philippines. National Artist Alice Reyes sent an email of support. Tony Boy Cojuangco and May May Leichtenstein have approved and eased the process. Maan Hontiveros and Jeffrey Solares gave us a discount for the Manila Symphony Orchestra,” the caption read. 

“I have cried. I am mourning. But I am also still working hard (along with all my dancers, staff and administration) to sustain the company through these times,” she continued. Macuja-Elizalde celebrated her birthday yesterday, October 3.

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@balletmanila GISELLE is happening on Oct. 17 at 8pm in the CCP Main Theater!

A post shared by lisamacuja (@lisamacuja) on Oct 3, 2019 at 7:18am PDT

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19 years ago, Fred gave me an 850 seater theater named Star in the middle of his amusement park named Star City. Two birthdays later he gave me Aliw Theater. This time the arena like theater could sit 2,500! Yesterday, we lost almost everything in a devastating fire that ate up Star Theater, Star City, MBC building and parts of Aliw Theater. Today - on my 55th birthday I would just like to say THANK YOU to all who will remember those glorious years of the park complex that brought so much joy to me, my family, my company and our community! Mabuhay po tayong lahat! Thank you to the Lord for NO ONE WAS HURT! Thank you to all who remember me today! Thank you for making me feel so very blessed! #riselikethephoenix #wewillrebuild #starcity #startheater #aliwtheater #mbc #balletmanila #familyiseverything

A post shared by lisamacuja (@lisamacuja) on Oct 2, 2019 at 6:51pm PDT

<>She further mentioned that hopefully, enough tickets will be sold to warrant a second performance of Giselle, “so that a second cast of principal dancers can dance their debut performance as Giselle and Albrecht. Thank you again! I really cannot thank you enough!”