Ballet Philippines continues to push creative boundaries with its latest production, ‘PAGLALAKBAY: The Journey of the Sea People’, a full-length original Filipino ballet inspired by the history and heritage of the Ivatan people of Batanes.
The production will have its world premiere on April 10, followed by additional performances from April 11 to 12 at The Theatre at Solaire.
LionhearTV recently attended the show’s preview and press conference, where the creative team revealed that the ballet celebrates Filipino culture while telling the story of the Austronesian migration and the journey of the “Sea People”—the Ivatan community—toward their ancestral homeland in Batanes.
Choreographed by Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Mikhail Martynyuk, with a libretto by Sheree Chua, the ballet blends classical technique with modern Filipino storytelling.
The music was composed by young Filipino composer Ronald Vincenzo Khaw de Leon, who incorporated the traditional sound of Kalusan with the strong rhythmic structure of ballet.
Chua shared that the concept of migration in the ballet is both historical and personal.
“Migration is often framed as displacement, but my mother showed me that movement can also be expansion, a widening of self without losing origin,” Chua explained.
“This ballet becomes both historical and intimate: a large-scale narrative of seafaring peoples, and a personal tribute to the woman who first taught me how to move through the world.”
Martynyuk described how the choreography reflects the natural elements of Batanes.
“Batanes is wind, rocks, and ocean. As the scenery changes, the quality of movement changes as well,” he said.
He explained that the choreography emphasizes grounded movements, wide steps, and body positions that respond to imagined wind and resistance—mirroring how Ivatan communities live with the island’s rugged environment.
Production designer Leeroy New also drew inspiration directly from the landscapes of Batanes.
“We wanted the stage design to emulate the key visuals and movement of the Batanes landscape—waves crashing on the shore, jagged rock beaches, and wild winds hitting the grass,” New said.
He added that visiting Batanes with assistant designer Arvie Santos helped the team better understand the terrain, culture, and stories of the Ivatan people.
The production also grew out of Ballet Brigade, Ballet Philippines’ outreach program that visited Batanes in May 2024. During the visit, the company interacted with more than 200 locals, including community leaders, elders, and students, exchanging cultural knowledge and dance traditions.
According to Ballet Philippines President Kathleen Liechtenstein, the production reflects the company’s commitment to highlighting indigenous Filipino stories.
“Ending our 56th Season with ‘PAGLALAKBAY’ was a bold investment for the company,” she said.
“It reflects our belief that local indigenous stories deserve the grand scale and artistic rigor of the classical stage.”
She added that the ballet aims to deepen appreciation for the journey of Austronesian-speaking peoples who migrated across oceans as early as 3000 BCE, while inspiring renewed pride in Filipino identity.
Now in its 56th season, themed ‘Our Stage, The World,’ Ballet Philippines continues to position Filipino stories at the center of global performing arts.
Founded more than five decades ago, the company is the first resident dance company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and remains one of the country’s leading institutions for classical and contemporary dance.
Tickets for ‘PAGLALAKBAY: The Journey of the Sea People’ are available through TicketWorld, the Ballet Philippines website, and the Solaire Box Office.
