The show transcends cultural boundaries and touches the soul of ballet lovers, with timeless music from history's greatest composers.

For the highly anticipated show, Isabella Boylston, a principal since 2014 and soloist since 2011, and Blaine Hoven, a recipient of the 2008 Princess Grace Award as well as the prestigious Chris Hellman Dance Award, take on John Philip Sousa's Stars & Stripes (Pas de deux). While Roman Zhurbin, a Russian ballet dancer who had trained under Michelle Mathesius, Joey Smith, Michele Benash, and Eddie Shelman, joins Stella Abrera to perform the Concerto by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Johan Strauss II's Bier Halle comes to life through the powerful artistry of Gillian Murphy and Jose Sebastian. Murphy was awarded the Prix de Lausanne Espoir, as well as the Princess Grace Foundation Award. Sebastian, on the other hand, is a native of New York City who started his professional dance career at age 8, and trained under Fabrice Herrult and Olga Kostritzky.

In another number, Abrera returns on stage with Joowon Ahn, from Wonju, Korea, who began his formal training in 2006 at YJ Ballet People Academy and Sun Hwa Art School, with a romantic excerpt from Romeo & Juliet, as choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillian.

Then, passion reigns in the nuanced performance of Catherine Hurlin, the 2007 Youth American Grand Prix NYC Final's Hope Awardee, and Arron Scott, a soloist since 2015 and an ABT dancer since 2003, in Flames of Paris. This is followed by a genteel dance On The Water by Gillian Murphy and Blaine Hoven.

For the Finale, the talented roster of award-winning dancers gathers for a nod to Don Quixote and will be joined by STEPS scholars from the CENTEX scholarship dance program.

Out of all the programs of the Ayala Foundation, why did you choose CENTEX to be the particular benefit of this project?

Ruel Maranan: What exactly has CENTEX really provided was the afterhours program—particularly in the field of music, math, critical thinking, and the dance. The opportunity to dream particularly in the field of arts is something of a rarity in a lot of cultures. But in CENTEX, it is a reality because it is extended to the pupils and students. For me, it’s really life-changing.

I’m sure the students were also inspired when they saw the ballerinas as to see someone reach that far, you’d ask yourself ‘why can’t you as well?’, right?

RM: Definitely. As I’ve seen them yesterday when our performers had the opportunity to visit CENTEX Manila, the students were taken aback and if I put myself in their shoes, we’re just like daydreaming right in front of them. Their idols are right before them and some of them were dancing so for me, that kind of situation is something they will bring until they grow up.

Stella Abrera: I don’t think there was a dry eye in any of us. They got us right at the moment we stepped into the gates of their wonderful school. They had prepared a wonderful presentation with the violin students serenading us as we entered. There were little kids who’ve been training for ballet for a year and that’s when the waterworks happened. They performed this really sweet beautiful dance for us and the joy on their faces was what was so moving for me. 

Tell us how the partnership started…

SA: Sofia and I became friends in New York. It was a very fortuitous meeting. We had a mutual friend who introduced us and had a great Mexican dinner one night, and we started joking around how fun it would be if we put up a show together one day. That was maybe two years ago. Then I saw that there’s a little break for us ABT dancers after our Asia Tour to Singapore and Hong Kong. So I thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring some of my bestfriends to show some of my favourite pieces to the Philippines. And so I called up Sofia and step by step, piece by piece, after months of hardwork and planning and now we’re here at this point.

What would be your advise to aspiring dancers?

SA: There’s so many reasons why we love what we do but in the end, it’s something that we’re born with. There’s a drive and a passion that pushes us forward. This career is very difficult emotionally, physically, mentally. You drive yourself forward through the ups and downs, through the hard times and that makes the amazing times much more meaningful.

Get the best training that you can, be in the moment when you perform, savour every moment, and have fun. So go for it!

Catch Stella Abrera and the American Ballet Stars on April 6 and 7 2018 and experience the full richness of ballet. Tickets are available on Ticketworld. Visit ayalafoundation.org or ticketworld.com.ph for more information.

An Intimate Evening with Stella Abrera & American Ballet Stars is co-presented by Ayala Foundation, together with Ayala Group of Companies and Patek Philippe. This event is also supported by The Aivee Group, Distinqt, and Nespresso.