For scholar Sixto Dones, ballet is the gift that keeps on giving
Sixto Dones’ assets, as described by his mentor Gerardo Francisco Jr., are his ability to jump, his height and his confidence on stage. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
By Jv Ramos
“Naaalala ko pa noong una niyo akong na-interview. Batang-bata pa lang ako noon. Kasama ko si Papa at puro kalokahan lang ang mga sagot ko,” laughs the tall and lanky John Sixto Dones, a Project Ballet Futures scholar.” (I can still recall when you first interviewed me. I was very young. My father accompanied me and I was not quite serious about my answers.)
Standing tall: Project Ballet Futures scholar Sixto Dones won Silver at the International Ballet Grand Prix and was part of the Ballet Ensemble given the Platinum award at the recently concluded International Arts Festival. Photo by Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Back in 2018, our subject was just eleven, and he didn’t have any strong feelings yet about ballet. He articulates, “Ang alam ko lang ay nag-e-enjoy ako tuwing sumasayaw ako. Nu’ng tumanda na lang ako na sobrang nagustuhan ko na ang ballet.” (As a kid, all I knew was I enjoyed dancing. It was only when I got older that I really liked it.)
Now nineteen and in first year college taking computer studies (and minus his father Ernesto as chaperone to the interview), Sixto sees ballet as the one place where he can let out his emotions and express his innermost feelings. “Siguro, napamahal na rin ang ballet sa akin dahil sa mga opportunies na binigay at maibibigay pa nito sa akin.” (I think what has also made ballet special to me are the many opportunies that it has given me and will continue to give me.)
From being able to go to another country to compete to performing with his peers on various stages, Sixto appreciates how the art has given him lifelong mentors and friends, allowed him to afford his computer-related interests, and provided him the means to help his own family even as a teenager.
Joining the festivities at the ball in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Cinderella (2023), Sixto (leftmost) dances alongside Celine Astrologo and Alvin Dictado. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Sixto shares that ballet has been particularly helpful in his family’s current situation as his father has had to undergo regular tests for lung complications due to diabetes. His father was the one who tirelessly brought him to the Ballet Manila studios when he started out as a scholar. “Gustong-gusto ni Papa na nag-ba-ballet ako, kaya naman tuwing na-da-down ako – lalo na tuwing nagsasabay ang school at ballet – humuhugot na lang ako ng lakas kay Papa. Grabe talaga ang suporta niya sa akin sa simula pa lang.” (Papa likes it so much that I’m into ballet, so whenever I feel down – especially when school and ballet are hard to balance – I draw strength from him. His support for me from the start has been immense.)
Other than previously bringing Sixto to his daily training, the elder Dones would always cheer him on and made ballet a big deal for the family. “Tuwing may competition po ako, nagsisimba po kaming lahat para ipagdasal ang safety ko po. Sobrang na-pi-feel ko po ang support nila at ang pag-e-enjoy nila tuwing napapanood ako.” (Whenever I have a competition, we go to church so we could all pray for my safety. I really feel my family’s support and their enjoyment whenever they watch me on stage.)
Sixto (fourth from left) performs in The Nutcracker: Clara’s Journey, the recital showcase of The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet in 2023. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Asked if he remembers the first time he danced in one of Ballet Manila’s season productions, Sixto recalls, “Le Corsaire po iyon at sobrang saya ko na na-cast ako bilang guard ni Pasha! Kasama ko pa nga noon si Gelo [fellow scholar Juan Angelo De Leon], at pareho kaming natuwa sa opportunity na binigay sa amin.” (Yes, my first was Le Corsaire, and I was overjoyed at being cast as a guard of Pasha. I remember being with Gelo at that time, and we were both very happy about the opportunity given to us.)
This scholar is quick to add that he remembers most of the recitals and company performances with Ballet Manila that he has been part of, especially since these also involve his batchmates turned good friends. “Noon, ang liliit pa lang namin ni Gelo, Stanley [Alamer], Angelou [Gamayon] at Germaine [Dawal]! At ang tataba ng mga pisngi namin! Ngayon, natutuwa ako na magkakasama pa rin kami. Humaba na lahat kami at lagi talagang nagtutulungan. Kami ang Solid Five, at lagi kaming nandiyan para sa isa’t-isa. Ayaw namin na may maiiwan.” (Back then, Gelo, Stanley, Angelou, Germaine and I were all so small and had chubby cheeks! I’m very happy now that we’re older and all taller that we’re all still dancing together. We are the Solid Five, and we’re really around to support each other. We don’t like it when someone gets left behind.)
A Project Ballet Futures scholar since age 11, Sixto enjoyed dancing to begin with but later grew to love ballet as a way to express himself. Photo by MarBi Photography
The camaraderie of the five is real, as they would encourage each other as they have navigated the challenges of learning ballet. Sixto actually has many things going for him, points out his mentor, Ballet Manila co-artistic associate and principal dancer Gerardo Francisco Jr. “Sixto can jump, looks long and tall on stage. Among the five PBF boys, he is full of confidence – in a good way. It’s like he has a boldness about him,” says Geri.
There was a time when Sixto was almost let go of as a scholar, but Geri went to bat for him and pushed him to do better. “He is making a strong effort to keep up with the others and has proven to himself that he can do it. While he may be slower to grasp things, he is capable of following along. When given the opportunity to compete, he focused on his goals, worked hard and was always willing to learn and accept corrections,” Geri maintains.
Sixto has proven he is worthy of being given another shot. In 2024, he won the Chairman’s Award at the Asian Ballet Competition, Senior Category. This year, he won Silver in the Senior Category at the International Ballet Grand Prix online competition, and was also part of the Ballet Ensemble representing the Lisa Macuja School of Ballet that won Platinum in the recently concluded International Arts Festival.
Though he likes performing and competing, Sixto says what he looks forward more to doing is the former. He explains that he’s one of those who really gets nervous about competitions that he has to go through an entire process of listening to chill music for him to calm himself. “Sa performances kasi, madalas kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko, kaya relaxed at nag-e-enjoy lang kami.” (When I perform, I’m usually in the company of friends, so we’re all relaxed, and we just enjoy the process.)
In his first interview with balletmanilaarchives.com, in 2018, Sixto was accompanied by his father Ernesto Dones, who also brought him daily to the Ballet Manila studio when he was starting out as a scholar. Photo by Jimmy Villanueva
This dancer, however, notes that both situations require hard work, especially when it comes to bringing together good technique and artistry. “Kung makalimutan mo kasi ang technique kahit ang pinaka-basic na straight lagi ang likod, ang pangit na agad ang galaw mo. Hindi rin naman maganda kung puro technique ka lang. Kailangan may artistry din para mailabas mo ang character na sinasayaw mo.” (If you forget technique, even the simple aspect of keeping your back straight, you mess up your entire performance. But you also cannot be all about technique. Artistry is important in bringing out the character you’re dancing.)
The young dancer recognizes there are aspects of ballet that he can still do better in. As Geri assesses, “Sixto needs to improve his stage presence and consistency. I have told him it’s not just about executing the steps or tricks perfectly; he also needs to connect with the audience. Currently, he is primarily focused on the technical aspects of his performance. I always remind him that he should dance from the heart and let the audience feel his emotions. Additionally, he needs to build more muscles.”
Sixto (second from right) in a scene from Don Quixote (2023). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Sixto shares that getting into the character of Lankadem – the role that won him the ABC Chairman’s Award – actually took the coaching of three people. Aside from Geri, there were Ballet Manila principal dancer Romeo Peralta and teacher Robert Peralta. He says smilingly, “Wala kasi akong yabang sa katawan, kaya naman tinulungan nila akong maging maangas sa stage. Isa na rin siguro iyon sa mga nagustuhan ko sa ballet. Sa stage, puwede kang maging opposite mo sa totoong buhay.” (I’m really not a person who’s mean and arrogant, so they helped me in appearing harsh on stage. I think this is also something that I like about ballet. On stage, you’re able to be the opposite of whom you are in real life.)
Speaking of the slave trader in the pirate ballet Le Corsaire, Sixto hopes to one day play Lankadem in full-length version. “Pangarap ko siya dahil naging pangarap ito ni Sir Shaz para sa akin.” (It’s my dream because Sir Shaz once expressed that he sees me in this role.) Sixto recalls that when he was a carefree ballet dancer-in-training and didn’t have big expectations of where his dancing would go, Osias “Shaz” Barroso, the former co-artistic director of Ballet Manila and one of his first ballet teachers, truly believed he could take on the role of one of ballet’s memorable villains if he put in the work. “At tama siya! Umangat kaming lahat at nagkaroon ng kung anu-anong opportunity dahil sa disiplina na tinuro niya!” (And he’s right! We all became better dancers and were given all sorts of opportunities because of the discipline he instilled in us.)
In Florante at Laura (2024), Sixto (center) as the teacher Antenor mediates between rivals Young Florante (Juan Angelo De Leon) and Young Adolfo (Germaine Dawal). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Almost marking a decade since he first started in Project Ballet Futures, Sixto knows that more challenges will come, but he’s sure about staying in ballet and working hard at getting better. “Sa ballet ko rin kasi unang nakita na may future ako, at talagang napamahal na ako dito.” (It was in ballet that I first realized that I could have a future, and really, I have learned to love ballet.)
“Sa mga batang magsisimula pa lang, ang advice ko lang ay huwag sayangin ang bawat opportunity na maibigay sa inyo. Gawin nyo ang best lagi. Maraming maibibigay sa inyo ang pag-ba-ballet!” (For all those kids just starting their ballet training, don’t waste any opportunity that comes your way. Always do your best. There are so many blessings that ballet can give you.)
Sixto is grateful for the many opportunities Project Ballet Futures has given him, including getting to perform alongside his fellow scholars who have become lifelong friends. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
