Ballet Manila Brings the Magic of Ibong Adarna Back to Areté This October

Some Filipino stories never really leave us.

They stay with us from childhood, tucked between school readings, bedtime stories, and memories of characters whose names we seem to know by heart. Among them is Ibong Adarna, the legendary tale of a magical bird, three royal brothers, and a kingdom desperate for a miracle.

This October, Ballet Manila gives this beloved Filipino story a fresh life on stage as Ibong Adarna returns to Areté for a special two-day run.

The production, choreographed by Gerardo Francisco Jr., will be staged at Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and October 10 at 5 p.m.

Rather than simply retelling a familiar story, Ballet Manila turns Ibong Adarna into a sweeping theatrical journey where music, movement, drama, and dance bring the legendary Filipino tale into vivid motion.

A Filipino Classic Told Through Dance

At the heart of Ibong Adarna is a story about family, loyalty, jealousy, love, and sacrifice.

When King Fernando of Berbanya is struck by an illness that no one can cure, his three sons, Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan, are sent on a dangerous mission to find the mythical Adarna.

Legend says that the bird possesses a magical song capable of healing the sick. Whoever succeeds in capturing the elusive creature could also claim the kingdom.

What follows is a journey filled with rivalry, betrayal, courage, and unexpected turns.

For many Filipinos, the story may already feel familiar. But on the ballet stage, the tale takes on another dimension. Instead of relying solely on words, the emotions of the characters unfold through choreography, music, expressions, and the physical storytelling of the dancers.

That combination is part of what has made Ballet Manila’s Ibong Adarna one of the company’s most beloved productions.

New Dancers Bring Fresh Energy to the Story

One of the most exciting parts of the Areté performances is the introduction of a new set of leads from Ballet Manila’s powerhouse lineup.

Taking on the role of the magical Ibong Adarna is Shaira Comeros, who will perform alongside Mark Sumaylo as Don Pedro, Rafael Perez as Don Juan, and Romeo Peralta as Don Diego.

The alternate cast features Jessica Pearl Dames as Ibong Adarna, Juan Angelo De Leon as Don Juan, Ralp John Balagot as Don Pedro, and Sean Pelegrin as Don Diego.

With every new cast comes a different interpretation of the characters. Their personalities, relationships, and emotional tension can shift depending on the dancers portraying them, giving audiences another reason to return to a story they may already know.

Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja Elizalde says the production continues to be among the company’s most requested offsite performances.

This year alone, Ibong Adarna has already been presented at Jose Rizal Coliseum in Laguna. Following its Areté performances, the production will continue to Iloilo.

Why Ibong Adarna Continues to Captivate Filipino Audiences

There is something particularly powerful about watching a story from Filipino folklore unfold through ballet.

The audience already understands the emotional foundation of Ibong Adarna. We know the importance of family. We understand sibling rivalry. We recognize the desire to protect someone we love and the consequences of betrayal.

Ballet gives these familiar themes a new language.

A gesture can reveal jealousy. A movement can suggest fear. A series of carefully choreographed steps can transform a royal court into a world of tension and wonder.

That is also why the production continues to evolve despite having been performed by Ballet Manila in different venues over the years.

Each staging is shaped by the dancers who inhabit its characters and by the audience watching from the other side of the stage.

For Macuja Elizalde, that continuing evolution is part of the magic of Ibong Adarna. The story may be familiar, but ballet gives audiences an opportunity to look at its characters and emotions from another perspective.

Bringing Ballet Closer to Filipino Audiences

Ballet Manila’s Areté staging also reflects the company’s continuing effort to bring ballet beyond traditional theater spaces.

By taking its productions to different communities and cities, Ballet Manila makes live ballet more accessible to audiences who may not regularly attend classical dance performances.

And Ibong Adarna is an ideal production for that mission.

Instead of asking audiences to become familiar with an unfamiliar story before watching the performance, the production starts with something deeply rooted in Filipino culture.

For longtime fans, it is a chance to revisit a childhood favorite in a new form. For younger audiences, it offers a vibrant introduction to one of the country’s most enduring stories and to the possibilities of ballet as a form of storytelling.

A Story Many Filipinos Know, Seen in a New Light

There is a special kind of anticipation that comes with watching a familiar story retold.

You know the characters. You remember the journey. You may even remember parts of the story from school.

But seeing Ibong Adarna performed live by Ballet Manila brings those memories into the present.

The mythical bird, the three princes, the sick king, the royal kingdom, and the search for a cure all become part of a larger visual story told through the dancers’ bodies and the rhythm of the performance.

For two evenings this October, Hyundai Hall will become the setting for that journey.

Ballet Manila’s Ibong Adarna runs at Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University on October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and October 10 at 5 p.m.

For tickets and event information, audiences may check Ballet Manila and TicketWorld.

For anyone who grew up with Ibong Adarna, this is a chance to return to a story that has lived in Filipino culture for generations. And for those seeing it for the first time, it may be a memorable introduction to the magic of Filipino storytelling through ballet.