Ballet Philippines’ Limang Daan Celebrates 500 Years of Feminism

Ballet Philippines concludes its 54th season on International Women’s Day with an original full-length ballet about 500 years of Filipino women's struggles

Words Julia de Armas
Featured photo courtesy of Ballet Philippines
Mar 12, 2024

Ballet Philippines concludes its 54th season on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024, at the Theatre at Solaire with "Limang Daan," an original full-length ballet aiming to shed light on 500 years of Filipino women's struggles in a time-bending narrative.

“It’s about the struggles, joys, and hopes of Filipinas then and now. It is about how we have transcended the unforgiving patriarchy to become the Filipinas we are today. It is a very exciting ballet that remains timely, relevant, and very relatable. It is everyone’s story,” says Ballet Philippines President Kathleen Liechtenstein.

Choreographed by Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk, the production exemplifies Philippine dance excellence and sparks dialogue on women’s enduring struggles throughout history. “You will see four fragments of time affecting different epochs of the country where the main female characters have left their mark,” says Martynyuk.

About Limang Daan

In 2022, Ballet Philippines, supported by Salcedo Auctions, presented "Limang Daan," a short video depicting 500 years of cross-cultural encounters influencing Philippine art, especially by Spain. This year, they’ve debuted a full-length ballet loosely inspired by the film. With a libretto by filmmaker and writer Moira Lang, this new version follows multiple heroines navigating various time periods.

Present Day

Ana, a Filipino nurse in New York, faces a grueling workload and unwelcome advances from a superior.

450 Years Ago in the Visayas

Amihan, a non-binary babaylan, confronts repercussions for rejecting salvation offered by “men of God.”

1969, Chico River, Cordilleras

Petra, Edena, and Leticia, Cordilleran women, defy threats to protect their homeland from oppressive forces.

A Convent in the Late 19th Century

Maria Clara, inspired by Jose Rizal's “Noli Me Tangere,” embodies a repressed nun confronting the convent's Mother Superior.

1904, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Gawani, an Igorot woman in the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair “human zoo,” finds strength in the women who came before her and those yet to come.

The Creatives Behind the Curtain

Librettist Moira Lang, known for acclaimed films like "Norte, The End of History" (2013), and "Anak" (2000), collaborates with composers Erwin Romulo and Malek Lopez for "Limang Daan." Renowned fashion designer JC Buendia designs costumes, while Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk directs.

Premiering on March 8, 2024, at The Theatre at Solaire, the venue offers 1,740 seats and features the Constellation Acoustic System for a premium sensory experience. Since 2014, The Theatre at Solaire has hosted renowned artists like Sting, Lea Salonga, and David Foster, serving as Ballet Philippines’ home for the past two years.