When rock meets pointe: Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, The Dawn rewrite the rules with 40th anniversary collab
For generations raised on playlists, TikTok sounds, and genre-hopping collaborations, the idea of boundaries in music and art feels almost outdated.
But on Feb. 20 and 21 at Aliw Theater, two Filipino institutions—from worlds that rarely collide—are proving just how powerful that crossover can be.
Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and iconic OPM rock band The Dawn are joining forces for "The Dawn of Ballet," a live performance that blends the band’s rock anthems with original choreography and performance by Ballet Manila.
More than a concert or a ballet, the production marks a shared milestone: 40 years of The Dawn in the music industry, and 40 years since Macuja-Elizalde’s homecoming from Russia, where she trained and danced as a classical ballerina.
A first, even after 40 years
Despite decades of achievements, Macuja-Elizalde shared that what excited her most about the project was its unfamiliarity.
“We’ve never collaborated with The Dawn, so it is a first, and I’m always excited about first-time projects,” she told PhilSTAR L!fe. “You never know where it’s going to lead. Creating new ballets, new dances, to new music, it’s a process, and you learn a lot from the process.”
That mindset of still chasing the “next big thing” after four decades is what keeps her work evolving. Having retired from performing, she now focuses on choreographing, directing, mentoring, and leading Ballet Manila.
“I’m always looking forward to the next big project,” Macuja-Elizalde said. “I really enjoy being blessed with the ability and the opportunities to continue polishing and honing my craft.”
For Macuja-Elizalde, reaching 40 years isn’t about looking back. It is about continuing to discover.
“Not every artist is given 40 years to create an identity and a body of work you can reinvent,” she said. “It is a journey of continuing discovery: of yourself, your art, and sharing that with the public.”
Dancing to rock, letting go of the rules
Classical ballet is known for its discipline and strict form. Rock music, on the other hand, thrives on grit, emotion, and release. For Macuja-Elizalde, that contrast is exactly the point.
“Ballet is the strictest form of dance,” she explained. “So dancing to rock music, for me, in a word? Freeing. It gives you the ability to forget all the rules of classical ballet and just go for it.”
Rather than softening The Dawn’s sound to fit ballet, Macuja-Elizalde leaned into its rawness: the crackle of guitars, the weight of the beat, the emotional pull of Filipino rock.
“Especially because it’s Filipino, may sariling hugot—mula sa puso,” she says.
“It’s something we can all relate to. I grew up on the music of The Dawn, so I relished this opportunity to collaborate and perform with them on stage.”
What ‘The Dawn of Ballet’ means
The title itself was coined by Macuja-Elizalde, and it carries both artistic and cultural weight.
“Artistically, it’s jumping into something new that we create together,” she said. “It’s going to be a unique performance that celebrates 40 years—together.”
Culturally, the project reflects how Filipino artists can honor classical foundations while embracing contemporary, local sound.
“My roots are in Russian classics,” she says. “But being able to find nuances in music that’s very Filipino—that’s very ‘The Dawn’—this feels like the beginning of something new for ballet.”
“The Dawn of Ballet” is part of “Ballet & Ballads,” a concept Macuja-Elizalde and her husband Fred launched nearly three decades ago to make ballet more accessible.
Choosing art, again and again
Forty years in, Macuja-Elizalde says continuing to choose her art is both a gift and a responsibility.
“I wake up every morning and do what I love to do,” she says. “I feel very blessed, but also responsible. It takes a village to create a dancer. It takes a village to create Ballet Manila. It takes a village to create The Dawn.”
More than accolades or legacy, what matters most to her is what audiences carry with them.
“At the end of the day, artists leave behind memories,” she says. “I want to leave behind a beautiful memory, one that will be shared again, long after I’m gone.”
On Feb. 20 and 21, that memory begins, when rock music meets pointe shoes, and two Filipino legends prove that even after 40 years, there’s still room for something entirely new.
Follow Ballet & Ballads on Facebook for updates on how to sign up for free tickets to "The Dawn of Ballet."
