In Their Own Words: Jessica Pearl Dames and Sean Pelegrin on their challenging experience in partnering
In their own words, the artists of Ballet Manila share their thoughts and experiences on not merely surviving but flourishing in the very challenging world of dance. This series is a collection of personal anecdotes, as well as words of wisdom that can be heartwarming, funny or dramatic, but always inspiring regardless of what field one is pursuing.
In December 2023, Ballet Manila real-life couple Jessica Pearl Dames and Sean Pelegrin were cast as Sugar Plum Fairy and The Prince in The Nutcracker: Clara’s Journey, the year-end student showcase of The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet. It was the first time for both to tackle the lead classical roles as professional dancers so they were eager to take on the joint assignment. Below, they recall the challenges of preparing for a performance they could be proud of.
Sean: Sa partnering kasi dapat in sync kayo pag nagbubuhat. Eh minsan, nauuna siya. Minsan nale-late ako. Pag ganoon pagod na pagod na, minsan nagsasalita nang: “Ano ba ’yan? Dapat sabay tayo!” “Hindi, ikaw yung mali!”
Pearl: Nu’ng unang rehearsal namin, away kami agad! Nagmukmok si Sean sa lunchroom. Hindi ako pinapansin! Si Kuya Mark (Sumaylo), lumapit sa akin. “Kamusta?” sabi niya. “Nag-away na kami agad, first day pa lang!” sabi ko. “Mahirap ’no? Ganyan talaga kapag couple kayo. Comfortable kayo sa isa’t-isa, nagsasalita kayo ng prangka kaya minsan mas nag-aaway.”
Sean: Kasi rin, nu’ng araw na ’yun, paulit-ulit nating ginagawa ’yung mga lift. Naka-sando lang ako tapos ’yung balikat ko sobrang hapdi na dahil sa tutu. Pulang-pula na! Shoulder lift tapos ikot tapos lift ulit. Sampung beses natin inulit. Ngalay na ngalay na braso ko! Kaya inis na inis na ko.
Pearl: Sabi ni Kuya Mark, mag-usap kayo! In-offer-an ko pa siya ng tinapay! Pero si Kuya Mark talaga ’yung tumulong sa amin. Try kami ng try pero walang mag-work. Si Kuya Mark ang umalalay.
Sean: Kabado na ko noon. Sabi ko, gusto mo mag-isip ng Plan B?
Pearl: Ayoko! Kaya pa ’yan! Gusto kong ilaban ’yun!
Sean: Tapos isang araw sabi ni Kuya Mark, subukan niyong ganito. Pero kailangan mabilis kasi pag mabagal, mabigat sa braso.
Pearl: Naramdaman ko kaagad na mas stable. Mas nag-work para sa amin. Pag nabibigyan kasi kami ng mga role na ganito, i-e-embrace talaga namin.
Sean: Gusto ko rin ma-try ’yung mas mahirap na version kasi iba ’yun pag nagawa mo.
Sean: When partnering, you have to be in sync especially when you do the lifts. Sometimes, she would go first. Other times, I’m late. We’re tired and sometimes we say harsh things: “What was that? We should be in sync!” “No, you’re the one who’s wrong!”
Pearl: During our first rehearsal, we immediately ended up fighting. Sean was sulking in the lunchroom. He was ignoring me! Kuya Mark approached me: “How are you?” “We fought already and it’s just the first day!” I said. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s really like that when you’re a couple. You’re very comfortable with each other and you speak very frankly so you end up fighting.”
Sean: That day, we kept repeating the lifts. I was in a sando and my shoulder was in pain because the tutu was rubbing against it. It was so red! Shoulder lift, turn, then lift again. We did it about ten times. My arm was already numb. I was so frustrated!
Pearl: Kuya Mark said we need to talk. So I even offered him a sandwich! But it was really Kuya Mark who helped us. We kept trying but nothing worked. Kuya Mark was there to support us.
Sean: I was getting nervous. I asked her, do you want to think of a Plan B?
Pearl: I said no! We can do this! I want to fight for it!
Sean: Then one day, Kuya Mark asked us to try something. But we needed to be fast because if we’re slow, there would be too much pressure on the arm.
Pearl: I immediately felt it was more stable. It worked better for us. When we’re given roles like this, we really embrace it.
Sean: I also wanted to try the more difficult version because it’s an achievement when you get it done.
Top photo: Jessica Pearl Dames and Sean Pelegrin deliver a joyful performance as Sugar Plum Fairy and The Prince in The Nutcracker: Clara’s Journey. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Pearl and Sean show the result of countless hours of rehearsals. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
