Jennifer Olayvar
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Rose Olayvar is a contemporary ballerina
from the Philippines
. She has been a dancer for Ballet Manila
since 2000. She had been the special assistant to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
from 2004 to 2007. Olayvar has taken minor and intermediate examinations in the Royal Academy of Dance
in London, England.
in July 2000 when the Royal Academy of Dance held local auditions in the Philippines. She joined Ballet Manila right after where she stayed with the troupe until 2007 but returned after a year of absence. In an interview with Pointe Magazine
, Olayvar pointed out that Ballet Manila is not state funded and the dancers do not have contracts, instead they are paid from the troupe’s performances.
. Her other tours includes the 2004 Aberdeen International Youth Festival
in Scotland
, the 2005 Andong Mask Dance Festival in South Korea
and the 2006 Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo in Cambodia
. In 2008, guest choreographer Sergey Vikulov selected three lead couples where Olayvar was one of the dancers chosen to perform in La Fille Mal Gardée
(The Naughty Daughter).
graduate majoring in International Studies
from De La Salle University
where her undergraduate thesis
was about the comparative study of ballet in the Philippines and Russia
. Olayvar was also an active cheerleader and the pep organization in DLSU
. She briefly became a flight stewardess and left Ballet Manila in 2007 but came back to the company after a year of absence. Currently, she is a faculty staff member of the Ballet Manila School
and at the same time she is also holding the role of marketing assistant
within Ballet Manila.
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. She has been a dancer for Ballet Manila
Ballet Manila
Ballet Manila is a classical ballet institution and dance company in the Philippines. It currently highlights more than fifty highly trained dancers in the highly rigorous Russian method of classical ballet. Locally the company has performed in 47 cities holding more than 4,100 performances...
since 2000. She had been the special assistant to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
Lisa Teresita Pacheco Macuja-Elizalde is a Prima Ballerina. She is the first Philippine ballerina, and first foreign soloist who ever joined the Kirov Ballet in 1984. In the Philippines, she is the Artistic Director of Ballet Manila and Vice-Chairman of the Philippine UNESCO National Commission...
from 2004 to 2007. Olayvar has taken minor and intermediate examinations in the Royal Academy of Dance
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
in London, England.
Career
Olayvar studied ballet at the Steps dance studio where she trained with Sofia Zobel de Ayala-Elizalde, Raul Sauz and Josette Salang. Olayvar came to the attention of the Ballet Manila when she was able to get the lead role of GiselleGiselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
in July 2000 when the Royal Academy of Dance held local auditions in the Philippines. She joined Ballet Manila right after where she stayed with the troupe until 2007 but returned after a year of absence. In an interview with Pointe Magazine
Pointe (magazine)
Pointe is an international trade publication for ballet aimed toward ballet dancers and students. It is published by Macfadden Performing Arts Media, acquired with the purchase of Lifestyle Media, Inc. in 2006. Pointe covers international news on company debuts, competition results, and rising...
, Olayvar pointed out that Ballet Manila is not state funded and the dancers do not have contracts, instead they are paid from the troupe’s performances.
Notable performances
Olayvar essayed the Fairy Doll rendition of Ballet Manila in 2001 and had been a soloist in the 2002 performance of Markitanka Pas de Six. She has joined the troupe’s performances for Carmen, Don Quixote, Paquita, Firebird, Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, La Fille Mal Gardee, La Bayadere, OPM & OPB, Swan Lake, Pinocchio, Giselle, Halo-Halo and Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang. In 2005 Jennifer Olayvar joined the 8th Asia Arts Festival held in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Her other tours includes the 2004 Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Aberdeen International Youth Festival is a leading Festival of Youth Arts, and one of Scotland's major international cultural events.Every year Aberdeen International Youth Festival attracts over 1000 of the most talented young people in performing arts companies and music groups from across the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the 2005 Andong Mask Dance Festival in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the 2006 Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. In 2008, guest choreographer Sergey Vikulov selected three lead couples where Olayvar was one of the dancers chosen to perform in La Fille Mal Gardée
La Fille Mal Gardée
La Fille mal gardée is a comic ballet presented in two acts, inspired by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin's 1789 painting, La réprimande/Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère...
(The Naughty Daughter).
Personal life
Jennifer Olayvar is a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
graduate majoring in International Studies
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
from De La Salle University
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
where her undergraduate thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
was about the comparative study of ballet in the Philippines and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Olayvar was also an active cheerleader and the pep organization in DLSU
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
. She briefly became a flight stewardess and left Ballet Manila in 2007 but came back to the company after a year of absence. Currently, she is a faculty staff member of the Ballet Manila School
Ballet Manila
Ballet Manila is a classical ballet institution and dance company in the Philippines. It currently highlights more than fifty highly trained dancers in the highly rigorous Russian method of classical ballet. Locally the company has performed in 47 cities holding more than 4,100 performances...
and at the same time she is also holding the role of marketing assistant
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
within Ballet Manila.