By Jv Ramos

John Carl “JC” Concepcion may just be the nicest danseur in town. When the pandemic hit, instead of focusing on his own needs, he thought of ways he could be of help to others. Hearing that his Ballet Manila colleague and friend Raymond Salcedo would be unable to go back to their place in Cavite, JC invited Raymond to stay in his home in Leveriza until the lockdowns were lifted. Then, when he had a little extra money despite not having regular income from dancing, he initiated a feeding program with his neighborhood barkada just so he could share what he had.

“Sumasaya po kasi ako kapag sinasabi ng mga tao na ‘Biyaya! Biyaya!’” comments the 23-year-old company artist. “At ginawa ko rin ’yon para sa mga kabarkada ko. Ang kukulit kasi nila at ayaw ko na ’yon lang ang tingin ng mga tao sa kanila.” (It’s heartwarming to hear people being thankful about what you’ve given them… I also organized the feeding for my friends. They’re very fun-loving people and I didn’t want my neighborhood to see them as just that.)

Admittedly a makulit (playful) person himself, JC notes that it was ballet that allowed him to stay out of trouble in his neighborhood. “Sobrang saya ng parents ko nang nag-decide akong mag-ballet. Wala na raw sila kasing susuwayin sa labas.” (My parents were very pleased that I decided to commit to ballet. They said they no longer had to reprimand me for loitering in the streets.)

Swayed by his friend and now fellow company artist Alvin Dictado to join a ballet audition for scholars when he was 12, our subject – who found ballet very difficult at first – was inspired by older danseurs to continue his training. Soon, he made the journey from being a Project Ballet Futures scholar to professional ballet dancer. “Araw-araw kaming nasa studio noon, kaya naman nu’ng nawala ang ballet, ang hirap talaga!  Hinahanap at hinahanap ng katawan ko talaga ang ballet.” (We spent almost every day in the studio before, so when we couldn’t dance anymore, it was very difficult for us. My body was craving to dance.)

Seeing that ballet wasn’t going to come back anytime soon, JC decided to occupy his time with other things. From helping out his family with dog-breeding, he became a delivery man during the lockdown and whenever time and resources allowed him to, he would make an effort to organize his own little outreach efforts. “Hindi ako actually marunong magluto, pero mayroon akong kabarkada na magaling dito. Ako ang nag-o-organize. Hinihila ko ’yung mga kaibigan ko at sinasabi kung ano’ng gagawin nila.” (I actually don’t know how to cook myself, but I have a friend who can. I would organize the feeding. I would ask my friends to come along and I would tell them what they could do.)

What started out as an initiative in their neighborhood soon extended to nearby areas with homeless people, making JC realize that he’s capable of so much more. “Siguro, ang pinaka na-realize ko sa mga panahong ’yon ay may kaya pala talaga akong gawin.” (My biggest realization over the pandemic is that I have the capability to do things.) 

This danseur expounds that since he was not good in school, he always had the impression that he couldn’t do much, especially if it was a task that he had to do on his own. But during the pandemic, he discovered that if he were to set aside the notion of his limitations, he could achieve a lot. “Nagawa ko ang mag-deliver sa malalayong lugar nang nag-rider ako. Dati, takot akong gawin ’yan!  At ‘yon din, dahil sa mga sunod-sunod na pa-feeding, naimbitahan akong tumakbo sa SK [Sangguaniang Kabataan, a council meant to represent the youth in each barangay], at interesado akong i-try ito. (I was able to go to very far places when I was a rider. That’s something I could have never done before. And then because of my feeding initiatives, I got invited to run for SK and I would really like to try serving.)

Given that more doors were opening for him, it’s only natural to ask if the pandemic ever changed his mind about ballet. Here, JC replies with a firm no but confesses that he did think of quitting when he resumed dancing with BM after restrictions eased up and injured himself in the studio. “Dalawang linggo pa lang kami nakakabalik at na-injure agad ako. Grade 3 ankle sprain daw po ’yon. Hindi ako makalakad ng ilang araw. Tapos, nang naging okay na, bigla naman ’yung isang paa ko ang nagkaroon ng komplikasyon dahil nga kasi ’yon ang lagi kong ginagamit.” (In just two weeks of returning, I got injured. They identified it as a Grade 3 ankle sprain. I couldn’t walk for days. And when that injury healed, I experienced complications in my other leg since I’d been using it too much.)

Since it was a painful back-to-back injury, negative thoughts inevitably entered JC’s head. “Naisip ko na bakit ito nangyayari sa akin. Pero hindi ko rin matanggap na hindi na ako makakasayaw ulit, kaya naman nilapitan ko na sina Ate Pia at Pearl para matulungan ako.” (I asked why do I keep on getting injured. But I also couldn’t accept that this was the end of ballet for me, so I approached Ate Pia and Pearl and asked for help in dealing with my injuries.) 

Once sidelined by injuries, twin principal ballerinas Pia and Pearl Dames knew very well what JC was going through physically and mentally. So they invited him to also begin training with Ballet Sports Science (BSS), a program started by coach Robert Osorio, Pia’s boyfriend, which helped them heal from injuries and further strengthen their bodies. “Kung gusto mo kasi, kailangan mag-sariling sikap ka! Kailangan mo maghanap ng bagay na makakatulong sa sitwasyon mo.”  (If you really want something, you have to work hard to do it. You yourself have to find solutions to get you out of your situation.)

“Nu’ng nakapag-BSS ako, mas na-excite pa ako sa ballet,” JC puts forward, adding that his days of feeling hopeless are behind him. “Bukod sa pag-iwas sa injuries, mas may body mass ako ngayon na nakakatulong sa mga lifting na kailangan bilang danseur.” (When I began BSS, I got even more excited about ballet… Other than preventing injuries, I’ve been able to increase my body mass which is helpful with all the lifting you do as danseurs.)

Currently busy rehearsing for multiple roles in Ballet Manila’s next big production, Ibong Adarna, this company artist says he’s glad that he has recovered from his setbacks. He is determined to keep strengthening and taking care of his body to continue his career. “Feeling ko po kasi ay may kaya akong gawin na sa ngayon ay hindi ko pa nakakaya, at gagawin ko ang lahat para makamit ’yon!”  (I have this feeling that there’s so much more that I can offer which I cannot yet, and I would stop at nothing to achieve my full potential.)

JC also expresses that ballet has taken him to several paths he never thought would be possible, such as traveling outside the country to dance and compete, and he would like to see where else his art and passion would take him. “Ang advice ko sa mga gustong sumayaw ay dapat buo ang loob mo lagi. Sa klase. Sa stage. Kahit maliit ang role o sandali ka lang sasayaw. Maraming opportunities ang darating kung buo ang loob mo sa pagsasayaw.” (My advice for boys who’d also like to dance is for them to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to it.  In class. On stage. Even if the role you’re dancing is small or very short. Many opportunities await if you just give dancing your all.)

Photos by Giselle P. Kasilag