Pink Toes

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18KY66z8cD/

A LOSS FOR PH BALLET COMMUNITY 💔

Felicitas “Tita” Radaic, a trailblazer of the Philippine ballet scene and the first teacher of prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, has died. She was 88.

Dance school Philippine Classical Ballet Syllabus Inc., which Radaic founded, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on June 3.

Radaic is considered by many to pioneer ballet choreography that caters to Filipinos’ sensibilities. Born on July 10, 1937, she was the first Filipina to become a member of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dancing in the United Kingdom. She also underwent training in Paris, Madrid, and London.

The ballerina produced and choreographed the productions “Mir-I-Nisa” (1969), “May Day Eve” (1971), “The Prey” (1973), “Japonsina” (1975), “Nan-Pangkat” (1975), “La Inamorata” (1983), “Oy Akin Yan!” (1968), “Tanan” (1968), and “Tubig!” (1979)—which all took inspiration from Filipino culture.

Radaic founded Dance Theater Philippines in 1986 and headed the school for over 20 years—innovating a classical ballet syllabus that fit Filipinos’ physique. She’s also regarded by many ballet teachers in the Philippines for helping garner support despite perceived competition among schools.

As a mentor figure, she trained Macuja-Elizalde at the dance school of St. Theresa’s College, which famously broke a 10-year religious ban on ballet in Catholic schools.

“Aside from teaching me my basic ballet technique, Mrs. Radaic instilled in me an immense sense of discipline, a deep respect for hard work and an almost self-punishing tendency to push myself to improve,” Macuja-Elizalde wrote in her 2006 biography, “Ballerina of the People.”

(✍️: Kiara Gorrospe, 📸: dance.MNL and Ballet Manila websites)

Learning new techniques and making friends from different ballet schools at the same time. 🩰❤️🙏🙂

.paulpasig

ABAP Convention 2026
St. Paul Pasig, May 16 & 17