If you're a fan of classical music in Manila, you must have heard of the Philippine Philharmonic…read moreOrchestra. They're the resident orchestra group of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and have regular shows at the Main Theater. Headed by Maestro Olivier Ochanine (yes, he's French, and he's quite the looker by the way), the orchestra has performed works from the bigwigs in music history, like symphonies from Brahms, Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart, and Strauss. They often invite some international and local guest musicians to join them on stage, like famous opera singers to complete their operatic suites, or renowned pianists and violinists. It's wonderful hearing classical music played live, and even more so when fused with other forms of art. If you manage to catch the PPO performing live with companies like Ballet Philippines, you're in for a real treat, so don't miss it and come to the theater! :) Tip: If you follow Maestro Olivier on Facebook, he occasionally gives out complimentary tickets to their performances, as long as you can answer some trivia questions about classical music and composers and show avid appreciation for the music and history behind it all. :)

You know how little girls are always made to do ballet by their parents? Well, this was where I…read moreexperienced that as a kid, although it was also partly because I wanted to do it myself (I was heavily into the princess-pink-ballerina-tutu fantasy as a 9 year old). Although I moved to a different ballet school when I got older, I credit this place as where my ballet dreams started. The school is located inside Vermont Park Subdivision along Marcos Highway in lower Antipolo, so it's quite accessible. It's a converted house where the entire first floor is the ballet school with a reception/waiting area, smaller classrooms for music classes (they also teach voice, piano, and guitar I think), and then the main dance studio with the mirrors and barres. It's quite tight inside, but good enough to hold a class of 10 or so. Although it's a small ballet school, it's given students the opportunity to perform recitals at the CCP main theater itself in Manila. At least during my time. They also have a really good costume supplier who would make the prettiest tutus, which is what I remember most from my time there, haha! Many of their students, especially those who really stayed on, went on to dance in their own groups at school and elsewhere. Some have also come back to teach. It's a pretty tight-knit community there and a fairly decent place to start your kid out for ballet.

If you've really wanted to try out dancing, but you feel like you're too old or don't have the body…read morefor it, check out Daloy Dance Company. They're a group of independent artists that banded together and burst onto the scene just last year, and have quickly been making waves. Headed by former Ballet Philippines dancer Ea Torrado, they've performed at several major events already, like Fringe Manila, the Pasinaya Festival, NCCA's International Dance Day, and guested during Ballet Philippines' Blue Moon Gala. They've also put up some of their own shows independently in non-conventional venues, the focus of their choreographies being strong social commentaries on society and culture. They focus mainly on contemporary dance and improvisation, and encourage people from all walks of life to get into dance. ("... To reflect a deeper human language & raise the consciousness of its audience" as their write-up says.) To put it simply, Daloy is very avant-garde, and is as artsy as artsy gets in the dance scene. The company has recently put up a school at Erehwon Arts Center in Quezon City, offering classes like Movement Meditation, Creative Movement and Improvisation, as well as Beginners' Ballet and Contemporary classes. These classes help in familiarizing yourself with your movement and the movement of others and form a deeper connection between mind and body. Anyone - no matter what age, with or without previous dance experience - is welcome to enroll and try out a class!

One of the pioneers in the contemporary dance scene here in the Philippines, Airdance is one of the…read morego-to companies when the said genre comes to mind. Their style of contemporary dance is more acrobatic than other companies, incorporating gymnastics and various stunts in their dances, and even (true to their name) aerial silk and aerial hoop exhibitions (rather adventurous forms of dance). Many of their choreographies have been performed overseas for festivals and choreography competitions. The Airdance company members all come from different dance backgrounds. Because of this, the company as a whole is adept at different dance styles, from classical ballet to contemporary, hiphop, and even poledancing. Airdance also offers regular classes in contemporary (basic and advanced), ballet (basic and advanced), hiphop, improvisation, and is the one of the few places in Metro Manila where you can learn aerial silk and aerial hoop yourself. (And arguably, they are among the most advanced and competent at it!) Airdance holds their own shows about once every quarter and are usually present in many of the art shows and festivals in the metro.

The best pointe shoe fitter around. They really know their stuff…read more Lots of cute items in their store too. The best store to buy gifts for ballet dancers and ballet enthusiasts. Prices are very reasonable.

Danse Boite is a dance store inside the residential area of Valle Verde I. It's a lot of effort to…read moreget to, because you can only get to the store via car, taxi, or by foot, but majority of ballet dancers in Metro Manila still do. Why? Because they stock just about every brand of pointe shoe there is, along with the right garters, ribbons, toe pads, foot paraphernalia you need as a ballet dancer. Most importantly, they offer consultations and assessments on pointe shoe fitting for first timers, provided by Desiree Peralejo, a dance lecturer at the UP College of Music and alumnus of the National Ballet School of Canada. Owned by the Peralejo family, patrons of the arts, Danse Boite also has a dance school and studio, the DBCISAS Conservatory. They offer ballet, music, and creative writing classes, and remain to be the only ballet school in the Philippines that teaches the Italian Cechetti Ballet Syllabus. Keep a lookout for Danse Boite sales too! Selected pointe shoes can go as low as P1,500 - that's almost 70% off the original price! :) (I bought 3 pairs during their last sale! Woohoo!)

Headed by the Philippines' prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila is one of 3…read moreprofessional ballet companies in Manila. Training their dancers rigorously in Russian ballet technique, Ballet Manila is known for serious dancers with a strong foundation in classical ballet. They have performed almost every full-length classical ballet with a full cast, and frequently invite guest stars from abroad to dance with them. Aside from their season shows, Ballet Manila also has regular shows in partnership with Star City, and they are the resident dance company of both the Star Theater and Aliw Theater. Their repertoire includes works from some of the top choreographers in the country. The Ballet Manila school offers regular classes for anyone thinking of seriously pursuing a career in dance, and hoping to join the company. Top students in the school get the opportunity to dance with the company and Lisa Macuja herself. You can catch a Ballet Manila show almost every weekend at the Star Theater, or stay tuned to their page for their season's line-up! :)

If you want to see something that'll change your life, catch a show by the Quezon City Performing…read moreArts. You have dance performances and music as well, but here's the clincher - these kids are street children. QCPA gets them off the street and grants them a scholarship that puts them in the theater or in the dance studio. Funded by the Quezon City government in hopes they'll pursue careers in the arts, most of these kids come from families that can't afford to send them to school, buy a house, or even feed them regularly. They could have been drug dealers, slaves to physical or sexual abuse, or worse, but this foundation transforms their lives and instead teaches them to play the guitar, to sing, and to pirouette. Through the QCPA Development Foundation, the scholars have led better lives. They have had the chance to travel, study, and earn money to support themselves and their families. Dancing, singing, making music, and creating art becomes their way out of all their hardships. To see them perform onstage and smiling, knowing the past they have, is beautiful. It really shows what a difference art can make to save this country.