Ballet Philippines sets sail with 'Paglalakbay'
Published Mar 11, 2026 11:22 am
On April 10-12, the culminating presentation of the 56th Season of Ballet Philippines happens at the Theatre at Solaire. “Paglalakbay: The Journey of the Sea People” is a full-length original Filipino ballet inspired by the Ivatans of Batanes.
Officials of Ballet Philippines and the Tourism Promotions Board at the press launch
Sharing close cultural and linguistic ties with the Tao people of Taiwan, the term Ivatan is used to describe both the people and the language.
An Austronesian ethnolinguistic group, their choice of Batanes as their ancestral homeland, marks them as a people noted for their remarkable resilience to the frequent typhoons that buffet the islands. Their architecture is similarly noteworthy, constructing highly durable, thick-walled stone houses.
Celebrating Filipino culture and legendary ocean voyages, the ballet inevitably touches on migration and the current Filipino diaspora, connecting the past with our present and future.
Sheree Chua
Choreographed by Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director, Misha Martynyuk, it is the story of a journey expressed through dance and music, following the exploits of a visionary leader who answers the call of the sea and leads his people across perilous waters to a new ‘home’.
Ballet Philippines’ President Kathleen Liechtenstein was happy to lead the media preview I attended and credited Sheree Chua as the indispensable partner and collaborator on this production.
Sheree provides the libretto, the sets are by Leeroy New, and the music is by 21-year-old Vincenzo de Leon. There’s historical accuracy and ethnological provenance for what we will witness during the performances.
Sheree was proud to credit her mother, Flora, who has long supported the Arts, as her inspiration for getting involved with Ballet Philippines. And there’s the uplifting, magical moment when Art is created, transforming dance and music into something ethereal.
An excerpt from 'Paglalakbay.'
We were treated to a short excerpt of the Ballet, and both the choreography and the music enthralled us, foreshadowing what we could expect in April. I loved how this was all original material, not an adaptation or revival of past productions. It's rare to take these risks, but I’m happy it's happening and will offer my support. Loved how Maymay Liechtenstein also mentioned that they’ll be taking Paglalakbay with them when Ballet Philippines visits Hungary, and possibly, other European countries.
It may have started when BP’s outreach program, Ballet Brigade, visited the Batanes National Science High School in May 2024. From toddlers to teenagers, over 180 Ivatan children gathered for the event and were enthusiastic for the workshop.
And when the reciprocal nature of these encounters led the BP dancers to learn the traditional Ivatan dances, the idea for a full-length ballet may have hatched. The fruition of that serendipitous meeting is what we get to witness come April 10-12.