Ballet Manila’s “Florante at Laura” dances its way to Areté
12 Nov 2024 | Eleanore L Teo
A literary Filipino classic comes to life onstage at the Hyundai Hall

Ballet Manila will bring their visually stunning interpretation of “Florante at Laura” to Hyundai Hall in Areté from 22 to 24 November, 2024 after a highly acclaimed initial production run of the original Tagalog love story. The renowned performing arts company will stage their adaptation of Francisco Balagtas’ classic awit for only three days so join us for a performance that will present romance, heroism, and faith into a new reality yet one that feels so historically familiar to us all.
Guided by a powerhouse team of exceptional talents, audiences will be enthralled by original music & orchestration in the masterful hands of National Artist for Music, Ryan Cayabyab; Dr Michael Coroza on the libretto; choreography by Gerardo Francisco Jr and Martin Lawrance; Mio Infante for set design; and Therese Arroyo for costume design.
“Ballet Manila is making Philippine ballet history by being the first company to create the very first full-length ballet to the epic story of Florante at Laura.” Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Manila, shares this milestone during the World Premiere of the performance last 12 October 2024. “The music is filled with dramatic, sweeping, and memorable melodies that will haunt you long after the curtain closes.”
The timeless journey of lovers shared through generations of Filipino learners in classrooms speaks of political turmoil faced by our hero, Florante, in captivity as he yearns to see his true love, Laura, who was taken away from him by Adolfo, the usurper of their kingdom of Albania. The kindness and courage of strangers help them to reunite and so begins the dramatic revelations that have made this poem the only one in the country that has never gone out of publication since its initial release in 1838.

In line with Areté’s vision of working with various organizations to strengthen awareness of local artistry across multiple disciplines, the partnership with Ballet Manila has truly shined a spotlight in our community to uplift iconic Filipino storytelling through interpretive movement and brilliance in the field of dance. “Florante and Laura” is only the beginning of a series of performances that will breathe life into the local performance arts industry in a way that honors our heritage while showcasing a global standard of excellence.
