By Giselle P. Kasilag

For the audience caught in the magic of ballet, it is easy to take for granted the hard work that goes into every pirouette and grand jeté. But for a ballet dancer, a day away from the studio is the difference between a perfectly executed step and a belabored performance devoid of grace. 

The enhanced community quarantine currently in effect not just in the Philippines but all over the world has been keeping many dancers away from the studio, the barre, and the regimented life they have been leading since donning their first pair of ballet shoes. Unable to come together, the dancers of Ballet Manila have devised their own workout plans to stay in shape despite the lockdown.

The program

“I usually get up at 9 a.m. and try to wake my body up by slowly moving it little by little from toes to my hands,” shares soloist Rissa May Camaclang. “After I eat breakfast, I would change into my leos (leotards) and warmers and start my warm-up for a barre class. We don’t have a big house so I can only do my class in a limited space. I start my class with some simple combinations from first tendus up until grand battement then quick tendu jetés and maybe little jumps. After that I would cool down and stretch.”

For company artist Emma Harris, having a program is the key to an effective workout. 

“I like to stretch every day to stay limber and keep myself mobile. I do a barre, and sometimes a floor barre, depending on my mood! I’ve also been doing a program prepared for me by Robert Osorio of Ballet Sports Science. I do this program five days a week,” she explains.

Mental health, however, is equally important. Company artist Brian Sevilla took time out during the first week of quarantine to rest and reconnect with his family. 

“I didn't do any workouts. Instead, I took it as an opportunity to rest from the past demanding weeks and just do my other hobbies like playing ukelele and reviewing some academics and stuff,” Brian says. 

But his restless feet soon won over. By the second week, he was “back to the barre” so to speak.

The barre

The barre, a stationary handrail, is an essential piece of equipment that ballet dancers use for support to promote fitness, stamina, flexibility and balance. With the studio temporarily off-limits, the dancers have become creative in providing alternatives.

Rissa May has turned to a chair with a gallon container filled with water for stability as her temporary barre. The same gallon container of water is also employed for squats. 

For Emma, the top of a cabinet has been taking the place of a proper barre. Other alternative equipment she has been using include a roller, tennis balls and the TheraBand. She has also recognized the importance of variety and has incorporated other dance movements into her daily routine.

“This has been a nice alternative for me to keep myself moving while being confined indoors,” said Emma. “I’ve had a fun time discovering and trying different ways to keep myself active! This includes things like watching and following along to random dance tutorials on YouTube, improving in my own time, and strengthening through things like Pilates and yoga.”

Just like Rissa May, Brian has integrated the gallon container filled with water into his routine after getting a tip from fellow dancer Kong Ke Xin. And like Emma, he has also added technology into the mix. Online ballet classes have been particularly helpful in keeping him on his feet during these challenging times.

Nutrition

At the heart of every successful fitness program is proper nutrition and Rissa May has been keen on ensuring that she provides herself with the proper food needed to fuel her body.

“Food is very important these days. I usually do the grocery with my Papa once a week. I make sure I get as much nutritious food as I can like eggs, brown rice, nuts, and meat. We usually buy our fruits and veggies at our talipapa, a small market in our barangay.”

With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, the dancers have been finding more creative ways not only to keep fit but to stay sharp with their dancing skills. If anything, it has motivated them more to stay strong both physically and mentally for the challenges yet to come.

“It's very hard especially with a limited space,” says Brian, “but sometimes it's okay to get out of our comfort zone and always find ways.”