By Cynthia Shank
A spellbinding sense of wonder filled the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium at Silliman University as Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s ballet company brought Cinderella to the stage.
The lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the timeless fairy tale began to unfold, casting a dreamlike spell on the audience. This was not just a performance; it was a journey into an enchanted world where love, magic, and elegance converged through the art of dance.
For Macuja-Elizalde, bringing Cinderella to Dumaguete was a unique opportunity. After the show, she explained with a touch of nostalgia that she had first choreographed Cinderella in 2016. “It had a world premiere, and ever since then, it’s been one of our really popular ballets, so we restaged it a lot. But it’s the first time that Cinderella is in the Luce Auditorium, she said.
Every detail of the production was crafted to amplify the vision that’s driving the production to immerse the audience in a magical, fairy-tale world. From rich costumes and intricate set designs to carefully chosen musical compositions, these were crafted to bring this enchanting atmosphere to life, drawing viewers into the story and creating a truly unforgettable experience working together to create a fairy-tale experience.
Macuja-Elizalde’s approach to the character of Cinderella is one that is grounded on optimism and light. “I always want to leave the audience happy, hopeful, inspired. So I really wanted to use the music of Disney–music of the musical–and incorporate it with school-inspired choreography,” she said with a smile. “I just want everything to be magical.”
Yet even a seasoned performer like Macuja-Elizalde faced challenges in bringing Cinderella to life, especially as a choreographer. “The challenge was, of course, getting over my own insecurities as a choreographer,” she admitted.
Macuja-Elizalde expressed that there’s a difference in dancing and choreographing. However, her openness to embracing new creative roles and refining her vision for the stage ultimately made Cinderella a uniquely captivating production, tailored for audiences both familiar with ballet and new to it.
The performance enchanted the audience, leaving them with a sense of wonder, just as the ballerina wished. “I hope that they will, first of all, be entertained and want to go again and again to the ballet,” she said. “That’s really why I want to present good quality performances to audiences— so that they go again and again to the ballet.”
The audience could feel this dedication reflected in the dancers’ performances, particularly in the lively and heartfelt portrayals by twin dancers Jos Daniel Andes and Jos David Andes.
When asked how they prepared for their roles, the brothers shared a behind-the-scenes look at their process. “What we do is prepare our bodies first–warm up, like exercise, to get ready for the show,” they said. For them, immersing themselves in the ballet’s period setting was essential. “In terms of character, it’s kinda like knowing what the genre is. Cinderella is based on that era, so there are a lot of ways to characterize yourself in ballet.”
Adding their own personal touches to the performance, the Andes twins brought charm and humor to their roles. Jos David Andes recalled a moment in the ballet when his partner came up with a humorous twist.
“It was not my idea, but my dance partner’s. I would go up on stage and propose to her, and she would say, ‘No, I don’t wanna marry you because I’m in love with the king.’” Jos Daniel Andes explained how he, too, brought personal flair to his character.
“There’s a lot of personal stuff— very little things. I’ve been through too much, so I approach it more like how I would if I was in that era, trying to be more charming, more regal.”
For the twins, bringing a beloved character and her companions to life was an exhilarating experience. “It’s fun. At first, we weren’t sure if we were doing it well because it was the first time,” they said, reflecting on their initial nerves.
“But seeing it all together in rehearsals and performances— it’s like magic. It brings us joy as dancers to bring that magic to the audiences as well.” They could sense that the audience felt the same joy.
Sharing the stage with the entire cast was a joy for the twins, as they found that performing alongside the leads and other characters created a synergy that infused each scene with energy and vibrancy— a connection they could feel deeply, one that the audience could see and experience with them.
The magic of Cinderella brought the audience to an enchanted world which they filled with love through their enthusiastic applause, warming the final show with a standing ovation.
As the night drew to a close and the final curtain fell, it was clear that Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Cinderella had done more than tell a fairy-tale story; it brought magic to life for everyone in the Luce Auditorium, leaving the audience with a spell-binding sense of wonder.
