Ballet Manila, Steps Dance Studio Join Forces for ‘The Nutcracker’ This December

Ballet Manila, Steps Dance Studio Join Forces for ‘The Nutcracker’ This December

Ballet Manila and Steps Dance Studio are coming together for a staging of The Nutcracker, running from December 11 to 13, 2026 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.

Presented by Ayala Land, Circuit Makati, and Samsung Performing Arts Theater, with support from GCash and HSBC, the production brings together dancers from the two companies for the Christmas ballet set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score.

The show will be restaged by ballet coach and choreographer Jeffrey Espejo, with sets and costumes designed by Gino Gonzales and lighting design by Monino Duque.

Ballet Manila soloist Shamira Veronica Drapete will perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy, opposite fellow soloist Jos David Andes as the Nutcracker Prince. Lila Amandine Jacob will portray Clara, with Ballet Manila principal dancer Romeo Peralta as Drosselmeyer and Pablo Palacpac as Fritz.

Ballet Manila principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo will perform the Snow Queen and Snow King pas de deux.

The Chinese Dance will feature Ballet Manila principal dancer Shaira May Comeros, Franchezka Antoinette Batalon, and Juan Angelo De Leon, while the Russian Dance will be performed by Rafael Perez, John Stanley Alamer, Germaine Dawal, and John Carl Conception.

The Waltz of the Flowers will feature Nanami Hasegawa, John Ralp Balagot, Jessa Balote, Sean Pelegrin, Samantha Garay, Ana Katharina Andes, Ana Graciela Andes, Elyssabeth Apilado, Marinette Franco, Simone Danielle Serrano, Franchezka Antoinette Batalon, Alexandra Joy Parcon, Reiko Mary Amelia Gopez, Fatima Gaviola, John Sixto, Raymond Salcedo, Jamil Montibon, Jefferson Balote, Alvin Dictado, Ethan Ckrizjadon Obispo, Justin Joseph Fraginal, Angelo Kyle Tungol, Pablo Palacpac, and Lukas Palacpac.

First performed in 1892, The Nutcracker has become a Christmas tradition for ballet companies around the world. Set on Christmas Eve, the story follows young Clara, who receives a Nutcracker doll that comes to life and leads her into a fantastical world.

After a battle with the Mouse King, Clara and the Nutcracker journey through the Kingdom of Snow and into the Land of the Sweets, where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and treated to a series of dances.

The production will run on December 11 at 7:30 p.m., December 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and December 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available through TicketWorld, priced at P2,659 (Orchestra Center), P2,393.10 (Orchestra Sides and Loge Center), P2,127.20 (Orchestra Center Back and Loge Center), P1,914.50 (Orchestra Sides Back and Loge Sides), P1,595.40 (Balcony 1 Center), P1,435.90 (Balcony 1 Sides), P1,063.60 (Balcony 2 Center), and P957.25 (Balcony 2 Sides).