Spotlight on Missy Elizalde

MANILA, Philippines - Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Fred J. Elizalde’s 13-year-old Missy Macuja Elizalde takes over as narrator in the coming reprise of Tatlong Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang, which runs until Aug. 28 at the Aliw Theater.

In the Philippine premiere of this ballet in 2009, Missy was just one of the birds, an eagle to be exact.

For the record, Missy has made several appearances in the weekend shows at Star City, among them as one of the Palestinians in Le Corsaire, Halo-Halo ni Juan, Pistang Pinoy, and as Butterfly in Alamat.

“I was supposed to be White Cat in the 2010 dance recital but I got a fracture and didn’t make it,” shares Missy.

As narrator in Lola Basyang, Missy has no problem speaking in Filipino.

“All the Tagalog words and phrases I accept as a big challenge. At home, I usually speak Tagalog to the Ballet Manila dancers, the staff, my family and friends. However, offhand, I find it difficult not to be able to mix English into my sentences. All of the dancing I find rather hard to do because of all the musical cues and my ankles. But otherwise it is my favorite role so far,” says Missy.

“This may surprise some people but my brother and I grew up without a Western upbringing. We know more Filipino legends than we do from our other cultures. Yes, I can relate to the stories, and since I saw them three years ago in our original Lola Basyang I haven’t forgotten a single detail,” she adds.

The last time she made it big on stage was when she essayed the role of Little Masha in the Nutcracker a year ago.

The eldest child of Fred Elizalde and Lisa Macuja, Missy danced with her real-life mother Lisa in the ballet piece “Ina” choreographed by Gerardo Francisco and that brought her to Ballet Manila’s successful tour of London and Ireland.

Now attending the Middle School in International School in Manila, Missy’s schedule is strictly between school and ballet classes and performances.

Her other interest is photography and she is currently reading The Hunger Games.

“I couldn’t put the book down. You can say I am a secret bookworm,” she enthuses.

When Missy debuted in The Nutcracker a year ago, it was no walk in the park.

     “I would definitely describe it as a frightening experience and an unforgettable one. It was more significant to me than the other shows I had done with Ballet Manila because the audience who came to watch the shows had known that it was me dancing Little Masha, and not a stranger picked from the BM School,” she recalls.

The part where she had to be pointe (standing on toes) was the most difficult challenge for her. “My ankles were weak and in pain. I was behind the other girls when it came to dancing on my toes. I must admit that the easiest part for me was the acting, I knew the mime well enough, but looking back, I feel that I could have done better with my face and my overall movement. Another tough part was where Droselmeyer gives Masha the doll. The scene involves a lot of pointe work that I was not ready for at the time. I wasn’t allowed to have a support onstage for the performances. But I was perfectly fine without it,” Missy shares.

Her mom Lisa admits she cried after the Nutcracker debut: “I was in tears especially during the final curtain call. I was very distracted in act one hiding behind the clock in the left wing watching her dance. As I said, up to now, I still have mixed emotions about Missy dancing. Because she is in such a hurry to dance, she is rushing and pushing herself. That has resulted in a lot of injuries. Strains, sprains, even a fracture already at such a young age. I always tell her to slow down, but I completely understand that mind-set because I’ve been there.”

Lisa knows whereof she speaks because in the many facets of their lives, they have many things in common.

“Missy and I are both extremely stubborn when it comes to attitude. Horse-with-blinders or one-track-mind are phrases that come to mind. Once we have both made up our minds, we are 100-percent committed to something — whether it be a project or a goal. In dance, we have completely different bodies. Hers is definitely more flexible and malleable. She has nicer arched feet, nicer legs, and a really beautiful face. Her technique is raw but you can see talent there, a lot of talent and confidence. As far as outlook is concerned, Missy is way too serious with a sort of sarcastic and even quite jaded sense of humor. I have always been the optimist and the one with the positive outlook — Missy can be a real worrier,” says Lisa.

Missy admits that her mom played the role of the teacher at first, then come Nutcracker, she played the stage mom.

“Nowadays I no longer see her as a teacher, but more of a boss at the studios, then a mom at home. Before I started dancing she was not the inspiration but more of the reason to start ballet,” shares Missy.

For now, Missy is content with what she has learned from her parents: “They always remind me that it’s not all the time that your body will follow what you want.  They taught me that obstacles were built for you to overcome.”