The world premiere of Ballet Philippines’ groundbreaking production of LIMANG DAAN coincided with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. Patrons and ballet enthusiasts braved the Friday night traffic to attend the gala performance at the Theatre at Solaire. Attendees donned their best “modern Filipiniana” outfits, which showcased the beauty of local fabrics and iconic silhouettes in a refreshing and stylish manner.

Balletones, art patrons, diplomats, business tycoons, pioneers of the creative industry, as well as theater enthusiasts were in full force that evening. Close friends and family of LIMANG DAAN’s creative collaborators, librettist Moira Lang, composer Erwin Romulo and designer JC
Buendia, were also present during the premiere.

In true BP form, brave women and men of the Philippine army, navy, and air force were among the VIPs that night. They enjoyed an evening of
dance and culture through the company’s Share The Magic program. The CSR initiative was conceived as a way of thanking the brave individuals at the forefront for their hard work and dedication.

The theater bell rang at 8PM sharp to indicate the beginning of the performance. Guests shuffled their way into the 1,740-seat theater, becoming the first people to experience the proudly feminist ballet. LIMANG DAAN would also act as Ballet Philippines’ 54th season-ender.
The company began the season last August 2023 with a full-length production of COPPELIA. It was followed by CHRISTMAS FAIRYTALES in December.

Beyond the gala night, a feeling of empowerment and love for country permeated throughout the weekend when LIMANG DAAN show ran at The Theatre at Solaire. Audiences were captivated by the powerful choreography and talent of BP’s dancers. They were spellbound by Erwin Romulo’s music, which seamlessly melded classical tunes with tribal, synth, and electronic elements. JC Buendia’s designs were a spectacle, especially for fashion icons who watched the performance. Moira’s cinematic libretto, written from feminist lens, captured the hearts of audiences. It sparked conversations on the female experience, as well as the country’s complex 500-year history. As reviews began to pour in, notable guests from the worlds of literature, music, design, fashion, visual and performing arts worlds agreed that LIMANG DAAN was one of Ballet Philippines’ finest works yet.

Staged by Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk, LIMANG DAAN follows a series of cross-generational heroines who mirror one another through their shared experiences of pain, suffering, and transcendence. The libretto was written by acclaimed filmmaker and activist Moira Lang, as a way of shedding light on the struggles of Filipino women in a time-bending narrative that spans 500 years.

To bring Lang’s libretto to life was the original music of composer Erwin Romulo, who says he was drawn to LIMANG DAAN because it gave him the chance to work with formidable women such as Moira Lang. Iconic Philippine fashion designer JC Buendia expertly crafted period-specific garments that weren’t only aesthetically pleasing on stage, but also functional for dancers to move in. His work helped define the characters and eras portrayed in LIMANG DAAN.