Principal dancers Joshua Enciso and Pearl Dames: Living for every Romeo & Juliet moment
Pearl Dames says that like Juliet, she can be very childlike and feel so thrilled to be in love. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz
By Jv Ramos
The first time Ballet Manila principal dancers Joshua Enciso and Jessica Pearl Dames portrayed the tragic young lovers from Shakespeare’s masterpiece was back in 2019. Both were still soloists then and British choreographer Martin Lawrance had handpicked them to star in a 20-minute modernized Romeo & Juliet, which stitched music from Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, The West Side Story, and OPM (Original Pilipino Music) artists.
“Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari noon. Twenty minutes lang kasi ang suite, so diretso lang sa kung ano ang gagawin mo sa stage (Things happened so fast back then. Because the suite was only 20 minutes, we jumped straight into the steps and what to do on stage),” comments Pearl when asked how things were like when she played Martin’s version of Juliet the first time.
Both first-timers in the full-length Romeo & Juliet, choreographed by Martin Lawrance, Ballet Manila principals Joshua Enciso and Jessica Pearl Dames make sure they have each other’s backs. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
“Sketches lang talaga ng Romeo & Juliet ang version na ‘yon, kaya hindi ko siya masyadong napag-isipan (That version compiled sketches from Romeo & Juliet so I didn’t think much about acting my character),” admits Joshua.
But if there’s anything that struck them about that 2019 experience, it’s how the guest choreographer worked. Martin presented an unlikely concept – among other things, reworking the Balcony Scene into the melody of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas – and it would only make sense once they had gone through learning the entire scene’s choreography.
“Talaga ba? ‘Yon ang unang reaksyon ko nu’ng una kong nalaman na Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas ang gagamitin. Sobrang na-curious ako kung paano niya gagawin (Really? That’s happening? That was my first reaction when I heard that we were using Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas. I was very curious about the way he would do it),” expresses Pearl. “Pero nu’ng pinarinig na sa amin ang instrumental version, na-gets ko na kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari at nu’ng nagawa na namin, nag-work siya talaga.” (But when we heard the instrumental version, we got his vision and when we executed it, it worked really well.)
“Ganyan si Martin talaga! May mga nakikita siya na babagay, pero hindi pa namin na-re-realize ito (That’s how Martin is! He sees things that would work, in the music and the approach, even if we don’t realize it yet),” says Joshua, who notes that this process of presenting unexpected concepts has continued as Martin has been putting together his new, full-length version of Romeo & Juliet which will open Ballet Manila’s 25th performance season on February 18 and 19 at Aliw Theater.
Other than bringing in more modern tunes, Martin transplanted the story from Verona to urban Metro Manila, where the lovers come from different social classes. The feuding Capulets and Montagues are now known as the Kapuletos and Montanas. Romeo and Juliet meet at a town fiesta, exchange DMs via mobile phones and social media, and express their love while dancing to a mix of homegrown music such as Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas, Ikaw and Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin along with an electronic version of Prokofiev, to name just a few.
Joshua Enciso can relate to Romeo being passionate about pursuing the things he loves. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz
This ballet is indeed such an atypical take that Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde declares it is a must-see. “It’s a cutting-edge version by Martin Lawrance – not your grandma’s Romeo & Juliet!” she enthuses. “Many companies have their own version of this Shakesperean tale, and I think that’s because the story lends itself so well to different interpretations and choreographies.”
Joshua and Pearl are appreciative that they’re getting to portray two of the most popular characters in literature and also in ballet, and in a choreography that has so many twists at that. Both have watched two film versions based on Shakespeare’s work – the Franco Zeffirelli-directed period drama, Romeo and Juliet, starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting (1968); and the modernized adaptation by Baz Luhrmann, Romeo + Juliet, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (1996). Joshua likes the first because he finds the actors’ delivery of their lines so genuine. Pearl prefers the latter not only for its updated approach but also because, she giggles, “Leonardo is so cute!”
Despite having originated the lead roles in Martin’s 20-minute suite in 2019, Pearl and Joshua point out that they’ve had to make adjustments as it transitioned into a full-length ballet. “Ibang-iba ang version na ito kaysa sa nauna. Kahit kami-kami na dancers nanibago talaga! Tignan niyo lang ang kantang I’m Kissing You. Noong una namin ito ginamit, para sa death scene. Pero sa full-length, part na siya ng love scene.” (This version is very different from what we did before. Even us dancers need to get used to it. Take for example the song I’m Kissing You. When we first used this, it was for the death scene. Now, it’s used for the love scene.)
Pearl explains that the song – an emotionally charged one originally sung by Des’ree for the Baz Luhrmann film – now accompanies that moment wherein Juliet wants Romeo to focus on them expressing love to each another, but Romeo is being eaten up by guilt for having killed Tybalt.
“Isa sa mga favorite parts ko ‘yang I’m Kissing You, kasi damang-dama ko ang nararamdaman ni Romeo. Ang intense ng scene na ‘yan,” Joshua chimes in. (I’m Kissing You is actually one of my favorite parts, because I really feel what my character feels in that scene. That part is very intense.)
Choreographer Martin Lawrance rehearses with Pearl Dames as Juliet and Mark Sumaylo as Juliet’s father. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
It’s also the point in the drama wherein the tragedy and ardent emotions keep building up until Juliet’s death. “At dahil inaabangan ng audience ang final scene na ‘yon, kailangan hindi mawawala talaga ang emotions mo habang sumasayaw.” (Because audiences are anticipating a powerful finale, you have to keep showing intense feelings as you continue to dance.)
Pearl agrees and notes that while they have mastered the partnering aspects of their roles earlier in the process, they both had a long way to go when it came to acting. “Noong una, natataranta ako. Sa dami ng steps, feeling ko, nawawala ang expression ko sa scene habang ginagawa ang mga steps na ito.” (Because there are many steps, I feel that I tend to lose my facial expression in the scene while I’m executing the steps.)
Naturally wanting to put forward a good performance, these artists have been taking extra steps to hone their acting skills. For his part, Joshua says he has been applying what he had learned from his friend’s thesis film, wherein he had the opportunity to work with actors. Meanwhile, Pearl reached out to PJ Rebullida, a choreographer, dancer and actor whom she worked with before, to get acting advice.
“Nag-send ako ng video ko sa kanya para malaman ko kung okay ba ang ginagawa ko (I sent him a video of myself acting so he could tell me if I was doing it right),” reveals Pearl. “In-advise niya ako na basahin ang mga monologue sa Romeo and Juliet dahil may mga cues doon tungkol sa kung ano ang nararamdaman ng character ko.” (He advised me to read monologues from Romeo and Juliet because you’ll find cues there about the way Juliet is feeling). PJ – who choreographed the piece Blind Love for Pearl and her boyfriend, Ballet Manila soloist Sean Pelegrin – also suggested that she jot down notes that would allow her to break down her movements and identify which moments she can emphasize facial expressions.
Pearl confesses that she also practices emoting in front of the mirror while music is playing to really master the character. She stresses, “Di biro ang acting. Mas draining siya sa akin kaysa sa pagsayaw!” (Acting is no joke! For me, it can even be more draining than the dancing itself!
Pearl wants to embrace each moment as the day nears for her Romeo & Juliet debut. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Both hope that their portrayal of the young lovers would be comparable to what they have seen from their fellow principal dancers Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro (Juliet’s parents in Romeo & Juliet), who have danced almost all of the iconic couples in ballet. “Sa sobrang galing nila sa pag-acting, napapakita nila talaga ang kuwento at nadadala talaga ang audience. Nakaka-inspire ang mga performances nila,” cites Joshua. (Because they’re so good with acting, they’re really able to tell the story and draw in the audience. Their performances are so inspiring.)
Speaking of inspirations, Pearl and Joshua have been finding motivation from different love stories to bring out the many emotions Romeo and Juliet go through. For the parts dealing with the characters falling in love at first sight and getting acquainted, they’ve gotten inspiration from their own strong relationships with their real-life partners: Pearl and Sean have been a couple for 10 years while Joshua has been with principal dancer Shaira Comeros for four years. “Familiar ako sa feeling na kinikilig ka at ito ang gusto kong maramdaman din ng audience sa Act I (I’m familiar with being so in love and this is what I’d like the audience to feel in Act I),” Pearl says.
It also helps that Sean and Shaira are very supportive romantic partners and professional as dancers themselves, so there’s no awkwardness when Pearl and Joshua perform the more intimate scenes in Romeo & Juliet. Sean teases Pearl that he will just fine her each time she kisses Joshua on stage.
When the tale starts to go dark from all the feuding and losses, Joshua says he thinks about their choreographer’s love story to channel the emotions needed. In 2020, Martin sadly lost his partner, Filipino designer Jeffrey Rogrador. Adding to the heartbreak was that, since it was the height of the pandemic then, the choreographer was unable to travel from England to the Philippines when it happened.
“Napakasakit ng nangyari kay Martin kasi wala siyang magawa (What happened to Martin was very painful because he couldn’t do anything),” shares Joshua, noting how Martin, while waiting during rehearsals once, was singing the words from Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin wistfully. “Nalungkot ako at dito ko binase ang naramdaman ni Romeo nu’ng nawala na si Juliet.” (I felt for him so I drew from that to bring out Romeo’s reaction when he loses Juliet.)
For Joshua, Romeo & Juliet is a huge opportunity to keep learning. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
The danseur and ballerina agree that they’d like to give their best performance this weekend to somehow help comfort Martin.
Are Pearl and Joshua anything like their characters? Pearl replies that she could be very childlike just like Juliet, while Joshua can relate to being passionate about pursuing the things he loves. “Siguro parang si Romeo, taga-awat din o pinagsasabihan ko ang mga kaibigan ko (Maybe I’m also like Romeo because I’m a mediator or I call out friends if needed).”
On being partnered by Joshua, Pearl shares that she’s always felt “safe” with him. “Helpful din na ang galing niya mag-act. Give and take rin kasi ang ballet, especially sa chemistry. So dahil nakikita ko na kilig na kilig siya sa ‘love at first sight’ na scene, napapakilig ko rin si Juliet.” (It’s also very helpful that he acts very well. There’s a give and take situation in ballet to be able to achieve good chemistry. So because he’s good at making Romeo fall head over heels with Juliet, I’m able to make my character do the same.)
As for Joshua, he admires the way Pearl moves so effortlessly in their scenes. “Alam ng katawan niya kung anong gagawin, kaya napapadali ang pag-galaw ko. Madali siyang ka-partner.” (Her body knows how to move from one step to another, so my movements just follow. She makes partnering very easy.)
Asked if they’re feeling the pressure of performing their first full-length as principals of the company, this Romeo & Juliet pair reply that they’re just excited to show everyone what they’ve been working on. Now more mature about his craft, Joshua articulates, “Nandiyan lagi ang pressure, pero ang iniisip ko, kung paano ko i-re-ready ang sarili ko sa sunod-sunod na araw sa theater. Kailangan mo kasing kalkulahin ang binibigay mong energy sa rehearsals para okay ka pa rin sa mga shows.” (Pressure will always be there, so what I’m thinking of is how I would prepare myself for the back-to-back days we’ll be spending rehearsing in the theater. You have to calculate how much energy you’ll give in the rehearsals so you’ll still be okay for the actual shows).”
Like her partner, Pearl is also into managing her energy so that she’ll be physically and mentally prepared for the performance. “Lagi akong natutulog nang maaga. Hindi na ako nagpupuyat para focused ako talaga sa rehearsals. Hindi na rin ako nag-a-alcohol kahit gustong-gusto ko nang tikman ang mixes ni Pia,” she says laughingly. (I always sleep early these days. I don’t stay up late so I’m very focused during rehearsals. I’ve also given up alcohol even if it’s been hard since Pia has been creating new mixes).”
Joshua and Pearl mimic the Romeo and Juliet pose of their Ballet Manila mentors, Osias Barroso and Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, in the photo used for the poster at right from the 1990s. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
It seems that recently, her twin sister and fellow principal dancer Pia Dames has taken up mixing drinks as a hobby. And every time Pia would come up with new drinks, Pearl says she can no longer be one of the first to try for now. “Pagagawa ko na lang after ng run namin! Another way din kasi ‘yan to discipline myself, para focused lang talaga ako sa trabaho.” (I’ll just ask Pia to remake her mixes when our run is finished! This is just another way to discipline myself, so I’m really focused on my work.)
Joshua and Pearl concur that being disciplined and showing up ready for every rehearsal have really helped them in becoming better as Romeo and Juliet. “As a dancer kasi na first time mag-li-lead sa full-length, gusto ko’ng i-embrace ang every moment (As a dancer who’s going to perform her first lead role in a full-length ballet, I want to embrace every moment),” says Pearl. “Gusto ko’ng maramdaman lahat at mag-explore pa ng mga bagay na puwede ko pa i-improve.” (I want to be able to feel everything and explore aspects of my performance that I can still improve on.)
Adds Joshua, “Actually kung good listener ka, sobrang dami mo talagang matututunan sa bawat rehearsal. Napakalaking opportunity nito para matuto pa.” (If you’re a good listener, there are so many things that you can pick up in every rehearsal. It’s really a huge opportunity to keep learning.)
For them, being in the moment and trusting the process are the key elements that would let them unfold the choreographer’s vision. With all the preparations they have undertaken and the effort they are pouring into this performance, these dancers can only wish that when the curtain rises and they step on that stage, they will no longer be Joshua and Pearl but Romeo and Juliet.
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