When the world went silent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dancing and music at Ballet Manila did not stop — it simply moved online. While theaters across the country closed their doors, the company founded and led by the Philippines’ first prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, found a new rhythm in the virtual space. “During the pandemic, we transitioned to online classes out of necessity,” Macuja-Elizalde tells Rappler. “But it turned out to be a blessing.