For Jessa Balote, being optimistic is the key to one’s wellbeing
By Jv Ramos
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 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, following a fitness, diet and wellness regimen suited to their specific needs.
Following a Ballet Sport Science program, Jessa – performing in Le Corsaire (2024) – believes her workouts have strengthened her ankles and improved her pirouettes. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
When Jessa Balote found out about her pregnancy in 2018, she was almost certain that she would bid ballet goodbye. But upon approaching Ballet Manila’s artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde to say that she was going to be a mom, this ballerina realized that becoming a mom only meant that she would be entering a new chapter in her dance journey.
Ballet Manila soloist Jessa Balote goes to the studio with a positive mindset, knowing she will be learning new things and that she’s earning a living doing something she really loves. Photo by MarBi Photography
“Nagulat ako nu’ng sinabi ni Ma’am Lisa sa akin na open lagi ang Ballet Manila kapag handa na ako. Di ko naisip na kaya ko pa pala maging professional na ballerina kahit nanay na ako.” (I was suprised when Ma’am Lisa told me that Ballet Manila would always be open for my return whenever I’m ready. I didn’t think that I could still be a professional ballerina when I became a mom.)
Realizing that there would actually still be a place in ballet for her, our subject readied her mindset that she would go back to the studio once she had gotten used to her mommy lifestyle and that she would work her way up no matter what. “Dahil nagbago talaga ang katawan ko, pakiramdam ko talaga noon ay start from zero ako. Mabuti na lang binigyan din ako ng payo ni Ma’am Lisa. Para bumilis ang pagkabalik ko, sinabihan niya ako na mag-take din ng Level 3 classes.” (Because of the changes in my body, I really felt that I was starting from zero. It’s a good thing that Ma’am Lisa was there to advise me. For me to get my skills back quickly, she told me to take Level 3 classes too.)
Those extra classes helped Jessa regain her flexibility and dancing form, and in less than a year, she was offered a contract to be a company artist of Ballet Manila once more.
Flash forward to 2023. Though Jessa was happy with her strong comeback and eventual promotion to soloist, she knew that there was something extra she could do for herself and for her dancing. “Dito na pumasok ang BSS (Ballet Sport Science). Noong November, binigyan kami ng pagkakataon na i-try ito nang libre ni Ma’am Lisa at sinubukan ko,” shares the ballerina-mom. “Gusto ko kasi subukan na habulin ang katawan ko dati. Siyempre, noong una, takot akong gawin ito, pero nu’ng sinimulan ko na ang mga workout ko kay Coach Robert [Osorio], na-realize ko na marami pa akong kayang gawin para ma-improve ang katawan ko.” (This is where BSS came in. Back in November, Ma’am Lisa gave us the opportunity to try Ballet Sports Science for free and I tried it. I jumped at the opportunity because I wanted to try getting my pre-pregnancy body back. Of course, at first, I was afraid to aim for it. But when I started my workouts with Coach Robert, I realized that there’s so much more I could do to improve my body.)
Jessa thought becoming a mom would end her ballet career. But she was able to return and says son Prince motivates her to be better at work. Photo from Jessa Balote’s Facebook page
Now 10 months into the BSS program, Jessa observes that Coach Robert’s progressive workouts and fit checks have been very helpful. “Na-feel ko talaga na nakakatulong siya sa mga pirouettes ko dahil mas naging malakas ang ankle ko. Na-feel ko rin na mas gumaan ang katawan ko. At siyempre, mahalaga na ang isang tulong ng BSS ay maiwasan ang injuries.” (I feel that BSS really helps with my pirouettes, since it involves a lot of ankle-strengthening. My body feels lighter too since I started. Of course, it also helps that one of its benefits is injury prevention.)
This Ballet Manila soloist, however, points out that integrating BSS training into one’s busy schedule isn’t easy. “Kailangan talaga na sa iyo manggagaling ang desisyon. Ginusto ko ito para sa sarili ko, kaya kahit anong ipagawa ni Coach Robert, tina-try ko talagang gawin.” (It’s a must that the decision comes from you. I went into BSS because I wanted it for myself. This is also the reason why I try to do everything that Coach Robert asks.)
In addition, Jessa expresses that she tries not to overtax her body. “Kung may Star City show kami, hindi ko na sinasabayan ito ng BSS workout. Gusto ko kasi na dahan-dahan lang ang progress at hindi pinipilit ang katawan." (Whenever I have a Star City show, I don’t do BSS workouts anymore. I want my progress to be sustainable, not something that would be hard on my body.)
Of course, her physical improvement is also the result of a change in eating habits. “Kahit favorite ko ang kanin, hindi na ako malakas diyan.” (Even if I love rice, I no longer eat a lot of it these days.) For breakfast, Jessa would just have bread and milk and the occasional street siomai when her older brother Jefferson (also a dancer of Ballet Manila) invites her to eat out before heading to work, and her lunch would usually just be biscuits.
She emphasizes that she doesn't go on diets, believing that starving oneself will only lead to health problems. "Basta kaunti na lang ang kanin sa araw-araw. At hindi na rin ako kumakain ng junk food. Naalis ko na ang craving ko diyan." (I eat very little rice daily. And I don’t consume junk food anymore. I’ve trained myself to no longer crave it.)
Jessa Balote is joyful as Amour, a character that personifies love in Act 2 of Don Quixote (2023). Photo by Erika Marquez-Jacinto
Speaking of food, Jessa finds so much comfort in cooking and making desserts for her family. "Parehong mahilig magluto ang nanay at tatay ko at nahiligan ko na rin ito. Nakaka-relax sa akin ang pagluluto. Masaya ako kapag ako ang na-a-assign magluto tuwing may birthday sa pamilya. Sumasaya din po ako tuwing sinasabihan ako ng mga pamangkin ko na nagagaya ko na ang luto ng mga restaurant.” (Both my mother and father like to cook, and this is something I ended up liking too. Cooking relaxes me and makes me feel happy. I feel happy whenever I’m assigned to cook for a family member’s birthday. I also feel happy when the kids in the family say that I’m able to replicate the flavors of restaurants.)
Jessa shares that whenever she wants to reward herself, she also turns to food. “Kahit French fries lang, masaya na ako. Kuntento na ako sa mga simpleng bagay.” (Even if it’s just French fries, that already cheers me up. I’m really contented with simple things.) In fact, by simply remembering the sound of her son Prince’s laughter, she already finds joy. “Tuwing kinakabahan ako bago ang performance, iniisip ko lang ang kulitan namin at nagiging okay na ako.” (Whenever I feel nervous before a performance, I just think about my fun moments with Prince and that makes me feel better.)
To further take care of her mental health, Jessa reveals that she pushes herself to have a positive mindset. "Puro negative na lang ang nakikita ko sa paligid, lalo na kung saan kami naninirahan. Sasabayan ko pa ba iyon? Gusto ko na maiba at gusto ko na ako ay positive." (I see a lot of negative things, especially in the area where we live. Do I have to go with that flow? I want the opposite for myself, so I choose to be positive.)
Lessening her intake of rice and avoiding soda and junk food has helped Jessa (seen here at the Ballet Manila Archives office) keep her weight in check. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
She continues, “Gusto ko na tuwing tumatapak ako sa studio, positive ang mga naiisip ko: Marami akong matututunan na bago ngayong araw. Kumikita ako sa isang bagay na sobrang gusto kong gawin.” (What I want is whenever I enter the studio, I have a positive mindset: I have so many new things to learn today in ballet. I am earning from my dancing, which is something I really love to do.)
It also helps that she’s transparent about what she thinks and feels in the studio. “Kapag nasasabi mo ang nararamdaman mo, natutulungan ka ng iba.” (When you’re able to express what you feel, others can help you.)
The ever-fierce ballerina concludes that when it comes to challenges in and out of the studio, “Di ko iniisip na mahirap o hindi ko magagawa. Ang iniisip ko ay makakakaya ko ito.” (I never think that something’s difficult to do or that I cannot do it. I just think that I can.)
