Ballet Philippines dancer Carl Lacaba talks about his disciple as an artist, the difficulties of the pandemic, and why he is grateful to be dancing again
With so much zest and passion for dance, it’s quite surprising to learn that Carl Lacaba’s ballet journey began as a happy accident. He started dancing only after accompanying his Kuya Ron B to the dance studio at the Teatro Baile de Cavite. Carl loved his experience and decided to pursue dance as a career. This soon led to his admission at the Philippine Ballet Theatre, where he took classes three times a day.
However, when the world was put on halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lacaba was forced to stop dancing. He decided to open a small business, but his heart remained at the ballet. “Ang hirap ng pandemic na isa’t kalahating taon tayong ni lockdown at kinulong,” he shared. “At ngayon unti unti tayong bumabangon. Pinaka grateful na nangyari sakin ngayon…at nakapag sayaw na ulit ako.”
After the pandemic, Carl joined Ballet Philippines as a guest artist. Although back in the studio, he felt rusty in his craft. Lacaba credits Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Misha Martynyuk for helping him find his way again. “Marami akong natutunan at marami akong nalaman sa director na si Misha,” he explains. “Na marami akong kailangan i-improve sa saraili ko lalo yung katawan. Dahil two years akong hindi sumasayaw sa studio talaga, sa bahay lang. So, pag balik ko [natuto] ako mag diet, natuto ako mag ala sa katawan…Sa dancer kailangan mong 100% disciplina.”
Today, Carl is flourishing with the company. He was last seen performing on-stage in Coppelia, and has danced in various productions such as Diyosa, Equus, Nutcracker and Bolero. The dancer’s heart and soul is in every movement he makes on stage. It’s truly remarkable to see his growth with every performance. Watch Carl’s full interview below:
Produced by: Ballet Philippines
Featuring: BP Core Dancers
