For soloist Rafael Perez, building good habits is key to staying fit
Paired with principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames in a scene from Don Quixote (2025), Rafael Perez says he keeps to a daily fitness routine supplemented by conditioning exercises under a Ballet Sport Science program tailor-made for him. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
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.
For Ballet Manila soloist Rafael “Paeng” Perez, part of being a dancer is knowing how to analyze your body and identifying the areas you must work on. Photo by Larry Salgado
Even before Rafael “Paeng” Perez made his ballet comeback, he had been obsessed with the idea of building good habits. Among these are eating his meals on time, limiting his usage of social media, and getting into a daily fitness routine, because he considers these essential in living out his danseur dreams.
Now a soloist of Ballet Manila – something that he achieved within just one year of rejoining the company – Paeng is determined even more than ever to have a life built on good habits.
He puts forward that being a soloist comes with the awareness that one is inevitably going to be someone whom the younger dancers look up to, “kaya kailangan good example ako lagi.” (I need to always be a good example.) To achieve this, Paeng notes that he must pay attention to what he does in and out of the studio.
He elaborates that being a good danseur isn’t just about taking class well and working out daily, but also working around one’s current circumstances. For instance, in last year’s season-opener when he was assigned prominent roles in Paquita and Pearls and was part of the corps in Anabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Bloom in between, he, together with principal Joshua Enciso, would bike on some evenings to build their stamina. “Part na rin diyan ang pag-take ko ng mga klase, hindi puwedeng hataw ka lang lagi. Kung may rehearsals pa ako, sinisigurado ko na may lakas pa ako para sa rehearsal,” he shares. (Part of it is the way I take my classes, I do not exhaust myself all the time. If I have rehearsals after, I make sure that I manage my energy to get through those rehearsals.)
Paeng went on his first-ever hiking trip during Ballet Manila’s holiday break, taking on the Kayapa Quad Peak (Mt. Tugew, Cabo, Kabuan and Sadjatan) in Nueva Vizcaya. Photo from Rafael Perez’s Facebook page
He adds that Ballet Sports Science coach Robert Osorio also adjusted his workouts and strengthening exercises based on the company’s schedule. “Kung palapit na ang mga shows at babad sa rehearsals, binabawasan niya ang pinapagawa niya sa amin sa gym.” (When the show days are near and we’re going through a lot of rehearsals, he would lessen what we’d do in the gym.)
Asked what it’s like to dance ballet with the support of BSS, Paeng attests that the program has helped his body get into optimum shape. “Minsan talaga, nagugulat ako sa mga kaya kong gawin, kagaya ng pag-lift sa ibang dancers na dati ay may struggle ako nang kaunti.” (Sometimes, I get really shocked by what my current body can do, such as being able to lift dancers easily, which I used to struggle with.)
He, however, reminds that having a good strengthening program isn’t the key to succeeding as a dancer. “Bukod sa sipag, kailangan rin na may tiwala ka sa iyong sarili.” (Other than determination, you need to believe that you can do it.)
Paeng shares that his comeback after a three-year break would not have happened if he didn’t have faith in himself. “Lagi kong sinasabing kaya ko gawin ang kung anu-anong roles – na minsan ay pabiro o minsan naman ay seryoso – dahil ayaw ko na manggaling sa akin kailanman na hindi ko kaya ang gawin ang isang bagay.” (I always say that I can do this and that role – sometimes jokingly and sometimes not – because I never want the thought of not being able to do something to come from me.) This dancer knows well that part of the battle to improve his dancing is believing that he can do it.
“Sa experience ko rin kasi, hindi ka naman papagalitan nina Ma’am Lisa [Macuja, Ballet Manila artistic director] o Sir Geri [Francisco, co-artistic associate] kung i-try mo ang isang bagay at hindi mo ito magawa. Ang gagawin pa nga nila ay bibigyan ka ng pointers para magawa mo nang tama o mas maganda pa nga ang isang bagay.” (In my experience, Ma’am Lisa or Sir Geri have never scolded me whenever I’d try to do something. What they would do instead is give you pointers on how to do it correctly or how to do it even better.)
Shunning negative thoughts and focusing on self-improvement, notes Paeng – seen here as the Jester in Swan Lake (2025) – are important elements in staying mentally and physically healthy. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Paeng adds that believing he can do it is his way of keeping the negative thoughts away. “Nararanasan ko rin ang mga iyon, pero i-ne-effort ko talagang maging positive at maging chill lang. Iniisip ko or mina-manifest ko lang lagi na kaya ko. Kapag nagalit kasi ako, parang sinasayang ko lang ang oras ko – oras na puwede kong gamitin para mag-practice at ma-improve pa ang pagsasayaw ko.” (I have my share of negative thoughts, but I just put a lot of effort in staying positive and being chill. I just keep thinking or manifesting that I can do it. If you get consumed by anger due to the negative thoughts, it’s just a waste of time – that’s time I could have used to practice and improve myself more.)
Regarding his eating habits, Paeng laughs and says that just like anyone else, he has his moments of giving in to junk food. “Nu’ng na-promote ako, kung anu-ano ang inorder ko sa McDo. Fries, ice cream, burger, rice, chicken – kinain ko lahat para mag-celebrate at dahil nagutom talaga ako sa paghanda sa Pearl Gala!” (When I got promoted, I ordered all sorts of things for myself from McDo. Fries, ice cream, burger, rice, chicken – I ate it all to celebrate and because I really felt hungry due to all the preparations we went through for the Pearl Gala.)
But once the big fat treat was over, he went back to his usual balanced days of cooked meals. “Kumakain pa rin naman ako ng kanin dahil kailangan namin ng energy sa pagsayaw. Ang dinadahan-dahan ko lang ay ang mga matatamis. Medyo mahirap ito sa akin dahil sobrang sweet tooth ako!” (I still eat rice daily because we need the energy to dance. What I control is my consumption of sweets. It can be difficult for me since I’m such a sweet tooth!)
Paeng makes his debut in a full-length ballet, just like his partner Shamira Drapete, in Florante at Laura (2025). Photo from Rafael Perez’s Facebook page
This soloist comments that part of being a dancer is knowing how to analyze your body and identifying the areas you must work on. “Sa taas wala akong masyadong problema, pero ang legs ko ay lakihin at halata ito kapag nag-white tights. Tabain kasi kami sa pamilya. Kailangan hinay-hinay lang sa sweets!” (I don’t have a problem with how my upper body looks, it’s my legs that I need to watch out for. They easily get bigger due to my family gene and which become obvious when I’m wearing white tights. I really have to control my intake of sweets.)
And what does this Ballet Manila artist do to unwind? “Chill lang din ako sa labas ng studio. Nilalakad ko ang aso ko at gusto ko rin balikan ang pag-aaral ko.” (I’m also chill when I’m outside the studio. In my free time, I walk my dog and plan to go back to my studies.) In pursuit of a college degree, Paeng reasons that it’s still possible for him to balance his dancing and his studies. “May libre pa akong oras kapag dumadating ako sa unit. Gusto kong gamitin ’yon sa aral.” (I still have free time when I come back to the unit. I’d like to use that time for studying.)
“Mahilig din ako sa music, kaya naman kung wala ako sa mood, nananahimik ako at nakikinig ng OPM, at ayun, gumaganda na ang mood ko,” expresses Paeng, noting that music also works when he’s with his close friends in ballet. (I also really like to listen to music, so when I’m not in the mood, I stay quiet and listen to OPM, and that really puts me in the right mood.) There would be times when their bonding consists of no exchange of words, they’re all just listening and feeling music that’s being played.
He reiterates, “Pero, sa ballet, kailangan mo talagang labanan agad ang bawat negative na pumapasok sa ulo mo. Stuck ka lang kasi kung patuloy mo iisipin ang mga iyon. Dapat focus ka lang lagi sa self-improvement mo at isipin lagi na kaya mo.” (But, in ballet, you really have to shut down every negative thought that enters your head. You’ll only get stuck if you keep on thinking about it. You should just always focus on self-improvement and keep thinking that you can do it.)
