Soloist Jessa Balote wants son Prince to know life is beautiful despite challenges
Next to be seen in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Jessa is Marya Upeng who becomes queen to Jos David Andes’ Haring Aras in the story Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya – where, as a budding ballerina, she was once cast as one of the eaglets. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
By Jv Ramos
Growing up, Ballet Manila soloist Jessa Balote was always told by her mother Anita that there were some things she would only understand when she had become a parent. "At tama siya,” comments the ballerina who became a mom before the pandemic. “May mga bagay na nagbago talaga nang dumating sa buhay ko si Prince. Isa na diyan ay ang pag-una ko sa kanya sa lahat ng bagay.” (And my mom is right… There are things that really changed when Prince became part of my life. One of these is putting him first in all things.)
Despite losing all their belongings to a recent fire, Ballet Manila soloist Jessa Balote still manages to smile. "What's important is that we are all safe," she reasons. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Jessa expounds that whenever she’s compensated for her work as a professional dancer, the first thing in her mind is giving her son Prince Jade a treat. “Gusto ko kasi maranasan niya ang mga hindi ko naranasan bilang isang bata. Kasama diyan ang pagkain ng masarap sa labas at pati na rin ang pagpasyal.” (I want him to experience the things I didn't experience as a child. That includes eating good food outside and going out.)
But as someone who was raised by parents who didn’t have much growing up, our subject also sees to it that Prince understands the way money should be spent. “Pinapa-intindi ko sa kanya na hindi puwedeng araw-araw ay lumalabas kami. May mga bayarin at may ipon din dapat kami, at naiintindihan naman niya iyon kahit bata pa lang siya,” shares the proud mom. (I make him understand that it’s not everyday that we can go out and have a good time. There are expenses and savings to be made too, and he’s able to understand that even at a young age.)
Jessa's son Prince shares her interest in dance and even got to share the stage with her as part of The Nutcracker showcases in malls and recitals. Photo courtesy of Jessa Balote
Barely 20 when she had to take a break from her ballet career, Jessa was faced with many challenges upon deciding to return to ballet after giving birth. “Naaalala ko pa ang mga unang klase ko sa Ballet Manila, patapon ang lahat ng ikot ko dahil nawala ang center ko. Nanibago din kasi ang katawan ko. Forty kilos ako bago mabuntis at pagbalik, 59 kilos na ako.” (I still remember my first classes with Ballet Manila, my pirouettes were all over the place because I lost my center. I guess my body wasn’t used to ballet anymore. Before my pregnancy, I was only 40 kilos, but after giving birth, I was 59.)
To get back her figure and ballet skills, Jessa followed the advice of her artistic director, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, who was familiar with the difficulties of returning to professional dancing, having done it herself after giving birth to two children. “Si Ma’am Lise talaga ang nag-encourage sa akin na bumalik. Noong five months pa lang si Prince, naisipan kong bumalik at nu'ng sinabi ko sa kanya, sinabihan niya ako na naniniwala siyang makakabalik ako at nag-invite din siya sa company class.” (It was Ma’am Lise who really encouraged me to return. When Prince was just 5 months old, I thought about going back and when I told her, she told me she believed that I could do it. She also invited me to go back to company classes.)
Jessa continues that Lisa also advised her to join the Level 3 class to help her body get used to the daily ballet routine again. "Ang pagsali ko sa mga klase na 'yon ay ang dahilan kung bakit nakahabol agad ang katawan ko.” (Joining those classes was the reason I was able to get back into shape quickly.)
It wasn't easy to return to ballet but Jessa Balote -- seen here performing as an Odalisque in Lisa Macuja Elizalde's Le Corsaire last February -- powered through and got back into shape. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
After months of relearning ballet and taking extra classes, she soon gained her strength back and in no time, became part of company shows. Here, she identifies motherhood as the main reason she refused to give up on her ballet dream. “Si Prince ang dahilan kung bakit ginusto kong bumalik sa ballet. Gusto ko siya kasing mabigyan ng magandang buhay. At bilang nanay, ayaw ko na nakikita niya akong sumusuko. Dapat matatag ka lagi bilang isang magulang kahit maraming problema sa buhay.” (Prince is the reason I pushed myself to get back into ballet. I want to give him a good life. And as a mother, I don’t want him to see that I easily give up. You have to be strong when you’re a parent even if life’s full of problems.)
Recently a victim of a neighborhood fire, Jessa made sure that Prince understood that losing their house and belongings was only a passing thing. “Sinabi ko sa kanya na okey lang na nawalan kami ng gamit, na nawalan siya ng mga laruan. Ang mahalaga ay ligtas lahat kami sa sunog. Mababawi naman kasi ang mga bagay.” (I told him it's okay to lose our things, to lose his toys. What’s important is that we are all safe from the fire. We can always get new things.) The ballerina-mom adds that when you’re a parent, you must be conscious about how you react to life’s problems.
Jessa (foreground, in Gerardo Francisco Jr.'s Ibong Adarna) wants to be given assignments that will continue to challenge her and unlock more of her potential as a ballerina. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
“Tina-try ko na maipakita kay Prince na positive ako – na lahat ng pagsubok ay kaya kong harapin. Ang mga problema naman din kasi ay dumarating araw-araw. Hindi mo kontrolado 'yon, ang nasa control mo lang ay kung paano mo haharapin, at ang gusto ko ay makita ni Prince na matatag akong nanay at positive sa buhay kahit maraming pagsubok.” (I try to show Prince that I'm a positive person – that I’m able to face any problem. Problems, after all, come every day. We have no control over that, but what we can control is the way we handle these problems. I want to show Prince that I am strong as a mother and have a positive attitude in life despite many challenges.)
Asked how Prince sees her ballet life, Jessa notes his toddler mind gets that it’s something she needs to do; he has even expressed enthusiasm for dance. “Magaling po siya gumaya ng sayaw. Alam niyo po ang mga sayaw sa TikTok? Nagagaya niya po ang challenges at magaling din siya mag-improvise. Talo pa ako sa improvisation!” (He’s very good at copying dances. Are you familiar with the TikTok dances? He can copy those easily and he’s very good at improvising. He even beats me in improvisation!)
In Le Corsaire, Jessa (center) also dances as part of the Naila Waltz. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
The soloist also recalls Prince being so comfortable on stage during those times when Lisa Macuja Elizade asked him to be part of The Nutcracker showcases in malls and recitals. “Gustong-gusto niyang sumasama sa stage. Tinanong pa nga ako kung bakit hindi siya kasama sa ibang performance. Interesado siya talaga sa ginagawa ko!” Jessa chuckles. (He likes being with me on stage. He even asked me before why he isn’t part of the other performances. He really is interested in the work I do!)
Jessa notes her son isn’t envious of the time she spends in ballet because whenever she’s home, she makes Prince her priority. “Kinakalimutan ko ang lahat ng nangyayari sa ballet kapag nasa bahay na ako. At kapag nasa studio naman, pinipilit ko na huwag mag-worry kay Prince. Noong una akong bumalik, mahirap gawin. Pero ngayon, sanay na ako i-balance ang ballet at pagiging isang ina. Nag-e-enjoy rin ako na maging isang dancer at isang ina.” (I forget about the things that are happening in ballet once I’m home. And when I’m in the studio, I try not to worry about Prince. When I first got back, it was difficult. But now, I’m used to balancing ballet and being a mother. I actually enjoy being a dancer and a mother.)
Jessa (right) values the lessons her mother, Anita (left), taught her and hopes to pass on those same lessons to son Prince. Photo courtesy of Jessa Balote
In the thick of rehearsals for Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, a production which she had been part of as a budding ballerina, Jessa can’t help but reflect on how far she has come. “Dati, isa ako sa mga eaglet sa Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, at ngayon, ako si Marya Upeng, ang bunsong kapatid. Natutuwa akong i-explore ang character dahil siya ang maligalig na kapatid, at siyempre ang laki rin ng pasasalamat ko sa opportunity.” (Back then, I played the role of an eaglet in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, but now, I’m Marya Upeng, the youngest sibling. I’m glad to explore the character since she’s the happy-go-lucky sister, and of course, I’m thankful for the opportunity.) As a soloist, Jessa is not particular about roles; she wants to be given assignments wherein she could improve and wherein she can unlock whatever she has yet to discover about her being a ballerina.
Musing about her journey from a Project Ballet Futures scholar to a Ballet Manila soloist, she says, “Bukod sa nagbago ang itsura ko noong scholar pa lang ako – blooming kami lahat ngayon – natutuwa rin ako kung paano binago ng ballet ang buhay ko. Dahil sa ballet, natulungan ko ang magulang ko. Dahil sa ballet, kumikita akong ginagawa ang isang bagay na gustong-gusto ko.” (Other than looking different – we’re all blooming now – I’m very happy about how ballet has changed my life. Because of ballet, I was able to help my parents financially. Because of ballet, I’m able to earn while doing something I really love.)
“Higit sa lahat, dahil sa ballet, nagbago ang ugali ko. Dati, puro problema lang ang nakikita ko, pero naipakita ng Ballet Manila sa akin ang magandang bahagi ng buhay – at ito ay gusto kong maramdaman ng anak ko.” (Most importantly, because of ballet, my attitude has changed. Before ballet, all I could see around me were problems. Ballet Manila showed me that life could be beautiful – and this is something that I’d like my son to feel.)
Ballet has changed Jessa's life for the better. What's nice, she says, is being able to earn from doing something she really loves. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
