Sidelined by an injury, principal dancer Joshua Enciso chooses to be hopeful
Joshua summarized what happened to him in a post on his Facebook page last July which included this video he made himself. Video courtesy of Joshua Enciso
By Jv Ramos
In the second quarter of 2026, Joshua Enciso had been working hard on his role as Lucien for Ballet Manila’s Paquita when his journey was interrupted by an ACL injury. (An ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament which connects the thigh bone to the shinbone to stabilize the knee.)
Ballet Manila principal dancer Joshua Enciso is looking forward to the time he can dance again. But while still recovering, he’s keeping busy with creative pursuits such as shooting videos and teaching ballet. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
It was May 29 and he remembers still being able to finish a pas de deux with fellow principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro as Paquita during rehearsals. But when it came to his variation, instead of completing an arabesque, he suddenly found himself on the floor. “Ang naramdaman ko noon, parang may humiwalay tapos bumalik,” Joshua recalls. (It felt like something detached and then re-attached.)
Joshua spent the rest of the rehearsal icing his knee, thinking that what had happened wasn’t serious. But soon, the pain was difficult to ignore and medical attention was sought. It was determined that he had to undergo surgery.
As he’s not the first dancer to go through a similar injury, Joshua knew that he could start doing light workouts after a few days. But after a gym session, he developed a fever that would not go away. Unfortunately, the doctors discovered blood accumulation in his inner thigh that had to be removed and so he had to undergo a second surgery.
Joshua is Prince Desiré to soloist Shamira Drapete’s Princess Aurora in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty last March. Photo by Missy Macuja Elizalde
“My second time was more memorable,” expresses Joshua. Aside from seeing the metal parts to be applied to his body on the operating table, there came the fear of having an infection again. “Di pa rin bumababa ang lagnat ko pagkatapos ng operation. One week akong nakahiga lang at pinagpahinga. Hindi magandang feeling iyon, lalo na kung sanay kang laging gumagalaw. Siyempre, di rin maiwasan na kung anu-ano ang pumapasok sa isip ko.” (My fever still didn’t subside after the operation. I was advised to rest at the hospital for a week. That wasn’t a good feeling at all, especially since I’m used to moving around. Of course, it couldn’t be avoided that all sorts of thoughts entered mind.)
It was only after Joshua was moved out of the hospital and into the Ballet Manila compound that he felt physically and mentally better. “Nawala na ang lagnat ko sa wakas at nakabuti talaga ang pagdalaw ng pamilya ko at ng mga BM dancers.” (My fever finally disappeared and I felt lighter when my mom and fellow dancers visited to cheer me up.) He recalls feeling motivated when principal dancer Romeo Peralta shared Ballet Manila’s plans for 2027, and being touched by principal dancer Mark Sumaylo’s thoughtful gesture of lending him his PlayStation.
Joshua indeed made good use of the PlayStation. But when he could already move around, he focused on planning what he could do while he was unable to dance — and what he could still contribute to the company. Producing videos about his fellow dancers was among the first things to come to mind, and this principal dancer did just that when his condition improved.
During his recovery period, Joshua has been giving classical ballet lessons to kids at various dance schools. Photo by Hannah T. Enrile
He also started teaching classical ballet to kids at various dance schools. And while it was something he had done during the pandemic, it’s only now he says that he truly got to understand why his late mentor — Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso Jr. — was so hard on him. “Ang pagsunod sa tamang technique at ang pagdidisiplina sa sarili ay para talaga sa ikabubuti ng dancers.” (Performing with the right technique and disciplining oneself is really for the safety and improvement of dancers.)
Regarding the videos, Joshua has been enjoying shooting behind the scenes and producing trailers for Ballet Manila’s marketing. One of the things that has been helping him in his recovery is his conversations with former Ballet Manila dancer Missy Macuja Elizalde — now a lawyer and an adept content creator — who has been generous in sharing tips on shooting and making videos.
Ballet Manila artistic director and Paquita choreographer Lisa Macuja Elizalde gives Joshua instructions in tackling his role as Lucien as principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro, playing Paquita, stands by. The danseur was unable to dance the role because of his injury. Photo by Missy Macuja Elizalde
Joshua jokingly says that he has also been studying a lot on YouTube university. “Gusto ko kasi i-level up ang mga videos ko – na hindi lang pang-vlog kagaya ng mga dati kong ginagawa. Gusto ko na may artistic cinematography kaya inaaral ko talaga ang paggawa nito.” (I really want to level up my videos — so they won’t just be like the vlogs I used to do. I want my videos to have an artistic cinematography, so I’m really studying how to do it.)
While Joshua has been getting better at shooting and editing, it is actually his first-hand experience as a dancer that has proven to be his best asset as a videographer. “Kapag may performance, kagaya ng La Bayadere, alam ko na agad kung anu-ano ang dapat ma-capture backstage. Pinagdaanan ko or alam ko ang preparations ng dancers kaya alam ko na ang gusto kong maipakita sa audience na ang nakikita lang. ‘yung kung ano ang nasa stage.” (If there’s a performance, like in La Bayadere, I already know which moments to capture. I’ve been through or am familiar with the preparations of dancers, so I already know what behind-the-scenes moments I’d like to be seen by the audience who only get to see what’s happening on stage.)
Joshua shares that his injury has changed his perspective about other Ballet Manila artists who have gone through the same experience. “Nandiyan si Raymond (Salcedo) na na-ACL, at si Kuya Mark (Sumaylo) naman ay nagkaroon ng meniscus tear. Ang hirap makabalik sa pagsasayaw kapag napagdaanan mo ang mga ’yan. Survivors na ngayon ang tingin ko sa kanila. Namo-motivate ako tuwing nakikita ko silang sumasayaw!” (There’s Raymond who also had an ACL injury, and Mark who got a meniscus tear. It’s so difficult to return to dancing when you’ve been through those serious injuries, so I now see them as survivors. They motivate me each time they dance.)
“It was heartbreaking to miss something I had worked so hard for, and I couldn’t even watch the performances (of Paquita) because I was still in the hospital,” says Joshua, seen here rehearsing with Abi Oliveiro. Photo by Missy Macuja Elizalde
Joshua also mentions principal ballerina Stephanie Santiago here. “Scoliosis ang sa kanya – inborn condition na kailangan niyang labanan araw-araw para makasayaw. Na-i-inspire ako tuwing nakikita ko siyang lumalaban. Na-re-remind ako na kakayanin ko rin, pero siyempre kailangan hindi madaliin.” (Her condition is scoliosis – an inborn condition that she has to struggle with every day to be able to dance. I get inspired each time I see her fighting to dance. I’m reminded that I can get through this, but of course it’s not something I can hurry.)
This danseur shares that while he has resumed taking company classes this September, he doesn’t engage in jumps and multiple pirouettes on his injured leg. “Nararamdaman ko naman kung kaya ko o hindi. Ngayon, alam ko na di pa puwede ang patalon-talon, pero nararamdaman ko rin na lumalakas ako.” (I can feel it if my body can do it or not. Right now, I know that I still can’t do jumps, but I also know that my body is getting stronger.) He attributes the latter to coach Robert Osorio of Ballet Sport Science who provided him with a workout program to strengthen the area that was operated on.
Joshua follows the program even when he goes home to Muntinlupa and teaches his classes there so that his recovery is continuous. Kilala ko rin ang katawan ko. Puwede itong mag-start bumilog dahil sa napapakain sa akin for recovery ni Mama kapag wala masyadong workout.” (I also know my body. I can start becoming plump with all the recovery food my mom serves if I don’t exercise as much.)
Asked how it was like stepping into the Aliw Theater the first time since he got injured, Joshua replied that having tasks to do – shooting videos and portraying a temple guard in La Bayadere – was helpful in keeping the negative emotions away. “Naramdaman ko rin ang struggle ng pagtayo ng 30 minutes kasi nga naninibago pa ang katawan ko. Pero thankful din na alam ko pa rin pala pigilin ipakita ang totoong nararamdaman ko sa audience.” (I felt the struggle of standing up straight for 30 minutes as my body isn’t completely healed yet. But I’m also thankful that I still know how to hide what I’m really feeling from the audience.)
Nearly three months after his injury, Joshua is cast as a temple guard in La Bayadere last August. The role called for him to stand for 30 minutes straight which he admits was a struggle. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Apart from hiding the pain of standing for an entire act, Joshua recalls preventing himself from laughing at company artist Jefferson Balute during the latter’s participation in the Indian dance. “May ginawa si Jefferson sa stage na di mo maiwasan na tumawa. Nu’ng naramdaman kong ngumingiti na ako, pinilit ko talagang mag-isip ng malungkot na bagay para lang mapigilan ang tawa ko. Siyempre, kahit character ka lang sa likod, dapat professional ka pa rin.” (Jefferson was doing something that you can’t help but laugh at. When I felt that I was about to smile, I forced myself to think about something sad so I wouldn’t end up laughing. While I’m only playing a background character, you still have to be professional.)
Joshua adds that while he is recovering, he does not want to waste any opportunity that comes his way. “Maraming pintuang sumara nu’ng na-injure ako, pero marami ring opportunities na nag-open up. Nakakapagturo ako, natututo akong gumawa ng short films, at kapag mas magaling na ako, gusto kong bumalik sa choreography na hilig ko rin.” (There were so many doors that closed when I got injured, but there were also many opportunities that opened up. I am now able to teach, I’m learning to develop my film style, and soon, when I’m better, I want to get back to choreography, which I also love to do.)
“Totoo, nababalikan ko lahat ng importante sa akin habang nagpapagaling ako. Isa na rin diyan ang pagsisimba na ilang taon kong hindi nagawa.” He notes that his return to his faith has helped him see the bigger picture. (True, I am returning to all the things that I’m passionate about as I’m healing. Among these is going to mass, which I didn’t get to do for many years.)
For Joshua, humor has been a huge antidote in battling the downers while recovering from his injury. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
He opens up, “Marami akong naiisip, pero ang tinitignan ko na lang ay kung ano ang matututunan ko kung saan ako ngayon, kung anong mga puwede kong gawin para makatulong sa BM. Kinikilabutan ako minsan kasi parang may sinasabi sa akin ang Diyos. Hindi ako natuloy sa Hong Kong Disneyland noong December, tapos na-injure ako ngayon. Mukhang ang purpose ko talaga ay manatili dito; na marami pa akong maibibigay.” (So many thoughts run through my head, but I try to focus on what I can learn from my current situation, and what I could do to help BM. I get goosebumps whenever I realize that maybe God is trying to tell me something. I wasn’t able to leave for Hong Kong Disneyland even if I got in, and then I got injured after. It’s as if He’s telling me that my purpose is to stay here; and that I still have a lot to give.)
Sporting a smile after voicing out his reflections, Joshua says he has so much to look forward to despite Ballet Manila’s performance season being over. He will be the first to see the new studio in Taiwan as he’s been invited by producers of BM’s Cinderella to shoot videos there, ahead of the shows on October 3 and 4. He will also be in Malaysia during BM’s Snow White run with DanceLink Performing Arts from September 25 to 27 as he has been tasked to mind the pop-up booth of Alecxa Dancewear. While he will be doing video duties for the upcoming Ibong Adarna shows at the Ateneo De Manila University’s Areté and in Iloilo in October, he will also be part of its cast. As a danseur who has always loved acting out dramatic roles, Joshua is enthusiastic about playing the king who suddenly falls ill and helpless in the tale of the enchanted bird which is ultimately about family love and forgiveness.
“Marami talagang doors na nag-open kaya very grateful ako. Pero siyempre recovery pa rin ang focus. Pinaghahandaan ko na ang sarili ko sa oras na kaya ko nang bumalik!” (So many doors have really opened, so I’m very grateful. But of course, complete recovery is my main focus. I am preparing myself for that time when I can dance again!)
Joshua is most appreciative that artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde has been an abiding presence through his surgeries and continuing recovery. Her words of encouragement, assuring him that he can bounce back and return to the stage eventually, especially give him hope to keep moving forward. In a Facebook post from July, he gave a shout-out to her, telling her: “Thank you for taking care of me, checking on me, and being there every step of the way. I’ll always be grateful for your kindness and support.”
In that same post, Joshua was effusive in thanking the people who have helped him and was at the same time full of reflection after the incident that had stopped him in his tracks. He wrote, “Sometimes God doesn’t calm the storm, He walks with us through it. I may not understand every setback, but I trust His plan, His timing, and His purpose.”
