Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

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In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Pacheco, the birth surname or paternal family name is Macuja, and the marital name is Elizalde.
Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
Filipino, English
EducationRussian Vaganova technique
Known forBallet
MovementClassical, Modern

Lisa Teresita Pacheco Macuja-Elizalde (born October 3, 1964) is a

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. Macuja-Elizalde is also Directress and faculty member of the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet – a training center for ballet professionals who are steeped in the Russian Vaganova method
. She is also the founder of Project Ballet Futures (PBF) - an internationally recognized community scholarship program that provides training and performance opportunities for deserving public school students.

Biography

Early years

Macuja was born at Lourdes Hospital in the City of

Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) and had since remained Philippine-based, performing as principal ballerina in major local productions and as international guest artist in Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and New Zealand. In 1995, she established her very own ballet company, Ballet Manila, envisioned as a ballet company by the dancers, of the dancers and for the dancers, dance training and education rank among the foremost priorities of the group under the watchful eyes of Macuja-Elizalde and ballet master Osias Barroso, who have drilled the company in the highly-rigorous Russian (Vaganova) method of classical ballet.[3]
During the first 10 years of Ballet Manila's touring, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde has led the company on four performance tours of 16 cities in Russia, four performance tours of 15 cities in the United States, and in arts festivals such as the Aberdeen Youth Festival in Scotland, and the Folk Arts Festival in South Korea, the Asia Arts Festival in Beijing, China, the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo in Angkor-Wat, Cambodia and the Philippine Fiesta in Japan. She also led her company in outreach performance tours of more than 45 cities and towns throughout the Philippines.[3][4]

Career and education

In 1982, Macuja was a scholar of the

Maryinsky Theater that Lisa first premiered as principal ballerina in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Giselle.[3]

In 1984, on a television interview during the 245th graduation program of the Leningrad Choreographic School at St. Petersburg, Russia, Konstantin Sergeyev spoke this words in Russian language (translated to English) about Lisa Macuja: "Especially remarkable is Lisa Macuja, who is exceptionally gifted. She is striking. She is like a spark, a spark full of life. She is graceful and virtuosic in her technique. She excites the audience. This is a great art; and it is her art and her natural talent."[3]

She received an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies in 2004, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management (with honors) in 2007, from the University of Phoenix, U.S., which is an online correspondence school.[5]

Media personality

It was on March 11, 2007 when Lisa Macuja-Elizalde launched her radio show billed as 'Art 2 Art', with the hope to nurture a relationship between the Filipino audience and the artists, thereby, further promoting art consciousness to the public with a lively exchange of ideas and experiences by guest artists on radio. Macuja-Elizalde's 'Art 2 Art' is produced by the

Manila Broadcasting Company, the largest radio network in the Philippines and in Asia with over 500 radio stations all over, with its flagship station DZRH
, the oldest radio station in the Philippines covering 97% of the archipelago.

In July 2012, Senator

Miriam Defensor-Santiago, in a resolution filed on Monday, urged President Benigno Aquino III to confer on prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde the title of National Artist for Dance
.

Santiago said she filed Senate Resolution 808, after watching "World Stars of Ballet," which starred Macuja-Elizalde.

Macuja was the first foreign soloist in the prestigious Kirov Ballet, also known as the Imperial Russian Ballet.

"Lisa is hailed as the 'ballerina of the people.' No Filipina ballerina has yet surpassed the recognition and pride Lisa Macuja-Elizalde has brought to the Philippines. She is the embodiment of talent, creativity and imagination, technical proficiency of the highest order, grace, and humanity that makes her worthy of the title of National Artist," Santiago said.[6][7][8][9]

Awards and recognitions

Awards

  • Special Prize for Artistry by the House of Diaghilev in Moscow (1992)
  • International Diaghilev Ballet Competition in Moscow, Russia, 5th Place (1992)
  • USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, Semi-Finalist (Senior Division) (1990)
  • Quezon City's Outstanding Citizen Award (1989)
  • Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition in Tokyo, Silver Medal (1987)
  • Patnubay ng Kalinangan at Sining Award (Outstanding Achievement in the Arts) given by the City Government of Manila (1988)
  • Most Outstanding Citizen Award given by the Quezon City Government (1989)
  • Best Radio Host - Arts and Culture Program (Gawad Tanglaw Awards) 2011,
  • Hildegarde Award for Women in Media given by St. Scholastica's College, Manila (2013)

Recognitions

  • Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP U.S.A, 1997)
  • Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos (TOYF, 1995)
  • The Outstanding Women in Nation's Service (TOWNS, 1989)
  • The Order of International Friendship awarded by Russian President Vladimir Putin (2001)
  • Pearl of the Orient Award given by the Rotary Club of the Philippines (2008)
  • Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Dance Production (Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts, 2008)
  • Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Dance Production (Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts, 2010)
  • Natatanging Gawad Buhay (Lifetime Achievement Award) 2010
  • Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production (Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts, 2011)
  • Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production (Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts, 2012)
  • Entertainer of the Year (Aliw Awards Foundation, 2012)
  • Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production (Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts, 2012)

[3]

Personal life

Macuja married Fred J. Elizalde on June 7, 1997. The couple have two children, Michelle Elizabeth "Missy" M. Elizalde, born July 28, 1998, and Manuel Cesar "Mac" M. Elizalde, born August 27, 2000.

References

  1. ^ "Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja earns her rightful place in Pinoy hearts". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  2. ^ de Sequera, Giovanni (June 17, 2017). "Lisa Macuja-Elizalde: The Life and Musings of a Ballerina". Townandcountry.ph. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-971-93615-0-3
  4. ISBN 978-971-542-509-4
  5. ^ Dillon, Sam (February 11, 2007). "Troubles Grow for a University Built on Profits" – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ "Sen. Santiago nominates Macuja-Elizalde for National Artist". newsinfo.inquirer.net.
  7. ^ "Miriam wants National Artist award for Lisa Macuja". philstar.com.
  8. ^ "Reyes Carls, S. Miriam nominates Lisa Macuja-Elizalde for National Artist. interaksyon, July 9, 2011".
  9. ^ "Miriam nominates Lisa Macuja-Elizalde for National Artist award". GMA News Online.

Sources

External links
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