Balletcenter Giselle

Internationally recognized premier danseur Nicolas Pacaña and choreographer Gregory Aaron assumed the directorship of Balletcenter in August 2006.  

Mr. Pacaña is known the world over for his interpretations of the lead roles in the classics, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Giselle,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Coppelia” and “The Nutcracker,” as well as a wealth of Balanchine, neo-classical and contemporary works, having worked with many of the world’s finest choreographers as premier danseur of The Honolulu City Ballet, the Boston Ballet and the Atlanta Ballet. 

Gregory Aaron brings his versatility of dancing in prestigious companies such as Oregon Ballet Theater, The Harford Ballet and the Boston Ballet as well as co-directing Atlanta Festival Ballet with Nicolas Pacaña for the last 26 years to the helm as Artistic Director.  

Both directors have choreographed a myriad of ballets, such as “The Nutcracker,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Peter Pan,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Swan Lake,” “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as neo-classical ballets such as “Eclipse,” “Bella Amore,” “Paganini “Paganini,” Amore,” “Paganini,” “Outcast,” “Tchaikovsky,” “Back to the Fifties,” “Sing Sing Sing,” and “Symphony in C.”

Balletcenter has been the focal point for classical and contemporary dance in the Visayas for 65 years already.  Nine years ago the Directors introduced the International Summer Series wherein dancers from all over the country have been invited to attend. 

When Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacaña directed Atlanta Festival Ballet School and Company, annually they were producing two full-length ballets, and two repertory series.  As Directors of Atlanta Festival Ballet school, they were responsible for training students for acceptance and to receive scholarships to schools and companies across the United States of America.  Presently they are Directors of Atlanta Festival Ballet, Georgia, USA and Balletcenter, Cebu, Philippines, and serve as Artistic Associates for The Royeca Schools of Ballet Davao City and General Santos City and the Lipa Ballet School, Batangas, and Artistic Consultants for Russian Ballet, Chiangmai, Thailand.

For 65 years, Balletcenter continues to provide classical ballet and contemporary dance to the citizens of the Visayas and, through partnerships, to Mindanao.  Its eclectic repertory of ballets such as “Peter Pan,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Swan Lake,” as well as neo-classical and contemporary ballets such as “Tchaikovsky,” “Bella Amore,” “Eclipse,” “Carmina Burana,” “Outcast” and “Symphony in C” continue to stretch the limits of the dancer.