Ballet dancers are often referred to as performing athletes. They must have the strength and stamina to withstand the demands of their profession and yet also possess the grace and poise to make it seem like what they do on stage is easy. In this series, Ballet Manila’s ballerinas and danseurs share how they stay in tip-top shape by following a fitness, diet and wellness regimen suited to their specific needs. 

By Jv Ramos

Ever since Romeo Peralta Jr. decided that he’d like to take ballet more seriously, his teenage self knew that he should be able to do two things well: lifting and partnering. “Nakita ko kasi na ang mga principal roles ay binibigay sa mga magaling mag-lift at mag-partner. Kaya naman ito ang pinagbutihan ko muna, tapos hinabol ko na lang ang technique.” (Growing up, I observed that the  principal roles were given to those who were good at lifting and partnering. So I worked on those first and just caught up with technique later on.)

To be able to lift well, Romeo would join the older dancers at the gym and lift weights to build his muscles while the partnering came out of diligently taking classes and really soaking in the teachings of then Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso Jr. “Unti-unti ko lang ginagawa. Nandiyan lang naman ang gym para gamitin naming mga dancers, pero naalala ko na may time na tinodo ko talaga ang fitness ko.” (I was able to build muscles by doing lifting bit by bit. The gym here is open to all dancers anyway, but I do remember exaggerating my road to fitness for a time.)

Here, the principal dancer is referring to his 2015-2016 season with Ballet Manila. “Noong time na ’yon, feeling ko na wala akong ginawa kundi sumayaw to the point na wala akong growth. I needed something different, so I opened myself to learning something new.” (During that time, I felt that all I was doing was dance to the point that I wasn’t growing anymore.) To get out of a rut, Romeo shares that he enrolled in six months’ worth of online classes dealing with fitness and nutrition.

“Siguro matatawag niyong obsession period ko ’yon.” (You can probably refer to it as my obsession period.) Aside from waking up at 6 a.m. to take classes online, he would hit the gym during rehearsal breaks to lift weights and immediately get back to dancing. He also followed an endless diet of steamed chicken breasts with barely any seasoning and completely turned his back on sweets.

“Ma-sweets po talaga ako’ng tao,” confesses Romeo. “Kaya kong ubusin ang isang box ng Flat Tops nang isang upuan… Tinigil ko ito dahil natutunan ko na 10 percent lang ang magagawa ng exercise para sa fitness mo. Ninety percent ay nakasalalay sa mga eating habits.” (I’m really into sweets… I can finish an entire box of Flats Tops in one sitting. I just stopped this because I learned that exercising only takes care of 10 percent of your fitness concerns. Ninety percent depends on good eating habits.)

Asked if his period of fitness obsession helped, the principal dancer claims that he surely noticed positive changes in his body. “Pero kailangan mo kasi maging realistic when it comes to fitness. Magastos kunyari ang diet na kailangan, at minsan, unrealistic na rin ang mag-weights ka pa kung pagod na pagod ka na sa rehearsal. Kaya naman ang ginawa ko, i-maintain na lang ang kaya ko.” (But you have to be realistic when it comes to fitness. The ideal meal plan can be costly and sometimes, it’s unrealistic to still do weights after an exhausting rehearsal. What I did was to maintain whatever fitness practices that I could.)

Among the things he has maintained is taking whey protein and supplements as these help him retain muscle weight and recover from soreness. Moreover, he avoids sugar as much as he can, including high-fructose eats like mangoes. “My sons love fruits, but I avoid the ones that are high on sugar.”

“There are many levels to fitness, and as a dancer, ang importante sa akin ay ang regimen na kung saan marami kang masasayaw na shows at kung saan makakapag-rehearse ka nang matagal,” states Romeo, underlining that being fit for him means being comfortable with the way his body feels as he dances. “Responsibility din ng dancer to look good on stage.” (What’s important for me is a regimen that would sustain you through many shows and long rehearsal periods… It’s also the responsibility of dancers to look good on stage.)

In addition, the danseur shares that it’s normal for one’s fitness regime to change, as this depends on the circumstances one is in. Right now, for instance, he’s conscious about conserving energy after a day’s dancing to deal with administrative tasks and helping with the boys’ schoolwork. “Ngayon, kapag nakatapos ako ng full-length, ang way ko para maka-recover ay humilata lang. Hindi rin ako lumalabas kahit ’yon lang ang oras na libre kang lumabas…Ang nanatili din sa akin ay ang pagpunta ko sa gym. Doon kasi ako nakakapag-isip. Oo, naging form ko ng meditation ang pagpunta sa gym.” (Now, after every full-length performance, what I do to recover is to just lie down. I also choose to stay home even if that’s the only time you can head out… I have also retained my habit of going to the gym. That’s where I get to clear my head. Yes, going to the gym has become a form of meditation for me.)

Romeo has dealt with injuries in his 23-year career as a dancer. He recalls almost fracturing his ankle as they were rehearsing for the martial arts-inspired choreography, Arnis, in 2008. “Nag-sign ako ng waiver na hindi i-cast ang ankle ko kasi mas mahaba ang recovery period kapag nag-cast ka,” says Romeo, noting that he really wanted to be part of the company’s tour to Korea that year. “Ang reason kung bakit ko ginawa ’yon ay, mas greater ’yung balik ng nakasayaw ka kaysa naka-upo ka!” (I signed a waiver against an ankle cast, because that would lengthen my recovery period… The reason for that decision is, I find it more fulfilling to dance than to just be left sitting.) He however cautions that what he chose to do isn’t for everyone. It takes dancers many years to learn what the best decision is for their bodies, especially when dealing with injuries, he points out.

“Importante din ang open communication between the dancer and his rehearsal master or mistress or artistic director. Kailangan ipaalam ng dancer kung may nararamdaman siyang masakit. Hindi puwedeng tahimik lang. Pero naiintindihan ko kung bakit rin nila minsan tinatago.” (It’s important to have open communication between dancers and their rehearsal master or mistress or artistic director. It’s the responsibility of dancers to inform them if something hurts. It’s not good if they keep it to themselves. But I do understand why they would hide it sometimes.)

Now one of the “elders” in Ballet Manila, Romeo hopes that the younger company members would be comfortable in discussing what they physically feel, as well as their mental health, with olders peers like him as they can dispense experience-driven advice.

Speaking of mental health, Romeo strengthens his by reading verses from the Bible and through praying before everything gets busy each day. With a strong relationship with God, he is kept grounded and is reminded about the kind of dancer and good Christian he’s supposed to be. He describes himself as a constant work in progress.

The father of three expresses that his Christian belief plays a big role in his life as a dancer – that it has helped him get through dark periods in his career. “Ang health at fitness ay hindi lang tungkol sa sayaw, o sa pag-workout.” (Health and fitness isn’t just about dancing or workouts.) Part of his well-being, he concludes, is reliant on faith.