En pointe for success: 15 year old Ainslea Esplana has been offered the exclusive role of company apprenticeship with Ballet Manila.
Ainslea Esplana’s childhood dream of one day being a professional ballerina has come one step closer to reality after being offered the exclusive role of company apprenticeship with Ballet Manilla.
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The role of company apprentice is normally reserved for dancers over the age of 18 however, Ainslea’s determination and intensive training at the associated ballet school resulted in a special exception.
It’s a big and exciting move for Ainslea, who began dancing at just three years of age.
At age nine she left traditional schooling to pursue dancing full-time with Projection Dance School before being trained online by ballet master Jonathan Janolo.
In 2021, Ainslea returned to on-site schooling attending the Scots School Albury who allowed a flexible timetable so that she could continue her rigorous dance training and travel to Melbourne once a week.
“Sometimes it was really hard to juggle schooling and dance, but I learnt prioritise the work with the help of my teachers and a modified learning programme. I was able to manage both my dancing and my education,” she said.
Ainslea, pictured in 2020, has been working hard under the guidance of Ballet Master Johnathan Janolo for the last two years with the dream of dancing at Ballet Manila.
“Each week I do about 15 hours of training, but I am excited to take on 32 hours when training at Ballet Manilla.
“I love the feeling of performing on stage for the audiences and the way it challenges me to strive for perfection.”
Ainslea has had great success with her dancing over the years.
Recently, she won the Singapore International Ballet Competition, and locally the Wangaratta Festival Cup and Classical Cup at the Albury Eisteddfod.
“I will be competing in the Asian Grand Prix while I am in Manila, and hope to make finals in Thailand in December,” she said.
Ainslea told the Free Press she was nervous and excited about her big move overseas.
“I am a little scared, but I am so grateful that I get to do what I have been training for since I was three, firsthand in a professional ballet company overseas,” she said.
“My family are very happy and excited for me. I think they will still be sad, because I'm the youngest of the family and the last one at home… so they'll have to get used to the quiet.
“My first two shows after five weeks of rehearsals are on October 7 and 10.”
Ainslea flew out of the country on Monday, August 29 ready to commence lessons with Ballet Manila on Thursday, September 1. She expressed heartfelt thanks her family, friends, and educators for their support over many years.
“I would like to thank my parents for all of their support,” Ainslea said.
“They helped me get the training I need to get to where I am now. From the 4am drives to Melbourne and more, my family has given up a lot for me to achieve my goals.
“I would also like to thank Jonathan Janolo, my coach, for his training, mentoring and all of his guidance over the past few years.”
Ballet Manila is the Philippines leading classical dance company. The world-renowned company was established in February 1995 by 12 young dancers led by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso with the guidance of Eric V. Cruz, with the ultimate goal to “bring ballet to the people and people to the ballet”.
Ainslea will join her older brother Noah who also dances with Ballet Manila.
Ainslea Esplana in front of the John Foord Bridge. Photo by Michael Esplana.
