Lisa remains unmatched

“Lisa at 25” proved Lisa Macuja still our top ballerina: her impeccable bravura technique, the keenest musicality and musicianship (qualities many overlook), and an eloquence that fuses tenderness with fire remain unequalled.

George Balanchine, the late Russian director of the New York City Ballet, observed: “The ballet is a purely female thing; it is a woman, a garden of beautiful flowers, and man is the gardener. Woman can do without a man in the ballet, but man cannot have any ballet company without woman. Ballet flourishes because of a woman; woman is the goddess, the poetess, the muse.”

In the unprecedented program of live and filmed performances, Lisa was the goddess, the poetess, the muse. In Don Quixote, Lisa’s stunning tour de force as Kitri matched that of the best ballerina in Kirov Ballet where she was the first non-Russian to assume major roles.

In the world of ballet, there have been great partnerships; e.g., Nijinsky and Pavlova, Nureyev and Fonteyn. Lisa has still to find a danseur who can match her technique and emotive artistry. Osias Barroso was Lisa’s principal partner for years; to be sure, guest performers Maxim Chashchegorov and Christophe B. Mohnani merited hearty applause. The other danseurs likewise demonstrated vigor.

The corps de ballet’s usual remarkable precision, grace and discipline, particularly in La Bayadere, pointed up Lisa’s excellence as a teacher. Even the baby ballerinas were an integral part of the entire company!

What made the presentation fantastic — indeed, fabulous — were Lisa and the rest of the ensemble dancing before ever-changing pictures and images (on a giant screen) whose ambiance immensely enhanced and enriched the visual impression. Thus, in Romeo and Juliet, there were the street in Verona for the duel between the Montague and Capulet clans, and a balcony for the young lovers’ adagio — with falling rose petals symbolizing passionate love; towering toy soldiers for Nutcracker Suite, a shimmering lake with gliding swans — the four Cygnets were a delight! — as also an elegant palace with glittering chandeliers for Swan Lake.

In this particular ballet, the joint roles of Odette and Odile are not for lesser ballerinas. Lisa, with a trim figure at 45 — portrayed both roles, executing Odile’s standard 32 fouettés with panache. Indeed, in adagio after adagio, how incredibly tireless Lisa seemed!

I would have been highly gratified watching just the first, purely classic portion of the program. But Lisa’s entire career further included classic ballet performed to pop music — here the giant screen again projected breath-taking scenery: snow-capped mountains, Nature in all her splendor, roaring ocean waves dashing toward the audience. Then, too, there were pop dancing with Lisa’s hips gyrating to jazzy beats, and stylized folk dances on toe — all these to illustrate Lisa’s admirable versatility.

One had to regard the finale — Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon based on Severino Reyes story choreographed by Osias Barroso – as a fairytale to accept its music of diverse native songs, its mix of dance styles with ballet predominating, and combined influences in sets and costumes.

The imaginative fairytale, with its profusion of weird, fanciful, forbidding creatures, revolves around a beautiful woman who falls in love with a Bird-Man. Her father’s staunch objection to the union was overly extended, thus weakening the drama and wearying the audience. However, Lisa, partnered by the exuberant Rudy de Dios, exuded tenderness and fire throughout.

Lisa finally becomes a Bird-Woman with feathers fluttering, she and her lover fly to their abode way above the astonished viewers. Re-appearing onstage to thunderous applause and prolonged standing ovation, Lisa was quickly engulfed with bouquets. After kissing her two children, she ran down to kiss husband Fred Elizalde who was credited with the “architectural concept.”

Lisa’s sister, actress-singer Gia Atchison and Reymond Sajor rivettingly sang pop tunes. Violinist Robert Atchison (Gia’s husband), Britain’s “national treasure” seamlessly accompanied certain songs and dances.

In sum, Aliw Theater showcased Lisa’s tremendous talent as a ballerina and her passionate commitment to making ballet accessible to the people.

Press con postponed

The Int’l Bazaar press conference set for tomorrow, Oct. 15, has been postponed.