No such thing as two left feet
People who look like they’re wrestling with the beat are said to have two left feet. Or at least that’s the card we pull when we get dragged to the dance floor, trying to avoid those dreaded Christmas party numbers.
Dancer-choreographer Jay Roncesvalles, better known as Coach Jay, doesn’t buy that excuse. Because, well, first of all, he jokes, it’s not literally possible. Seriously, though, he believes that clumsiness isn’t in the feet, but in the mind. And in that case, he believes anyone can dance the same way we all learned to walk or jump—through muscle memory.
“‘Di naman tayo pinanganak na marunong maglakad, pero dahil sinanay tayo, natututo tayo hanggang sa marunong na rin tayong tumakbo at tumalon,” he says. “Dancing involves muscles na kailangan mo lang sanayin at turuan.”
Trial and error
In fact, it may be hard to believe, but before he became an international dance champion and choreographer to the stars—most notably SB19—Roncesvalles wasn’t as naturally gifted a mover as people assume. Like many, he started out stiff. But it is what it is, he says—everyone has to start somewhere.
And for him, it was his room, at home in General Santos City.
“Magsisimula ka talagang hindi marunong. Puwede kong sabihin na parehas kaliwa ang mga paa ko. But in my heart, gusto ko. Kaya kahit walang nagtuturo sa ‘kin, gumagawa ako ng paraan,” Roncesvalles recalls. “Nag-try ako nung una, pero ang tigas ng katawan ko. Tinutukso ako, and I would get disappointed. So ako lang mag-isa sa kwarto kasi nahihiya ako.”
But soon, he realized that the first barrier to dancing isn’t a lack of coordination or athleticism, but self-consciousness. After all, it’s an art form meant for an audience, and part of the fun is looking good while doing it. But the reality is, you can’t have that if you’re not willing to look silly at first.
“Kapag nagsisimula ka pa lang, magmumukha kang tanga. Gano’n talaga. Ang mahalaga, nagsimula ka. Pero darating ang oras na wala ka nang pakialam,” he says. “Despite the pressure, mape-perfect mo—at doon na maniniwala ang mga tao. To see is to believe, ika nga. You just have to go through trial and error.”
Proving doubters wrong
Over and over, Roncesvalles put himself through that process until he was good enough to join his former dance crew, XB Gensan, and lead them to victory in the national contest “Showtime” in 2010. They then went on to score back-to-back wins at the 2015 and 2016 “Dance2Dance World Streetdance Showcase” in Zurich, Switzerland.
In 2019, after leaving XB Gensan, Roncesvalles competed as a solo performer at the “World of Dance Philippines,” another local dance tilt. Now, he’s one of the most sought-after choreographers in the music scene, and is celebrated for his iconic collaborations with 1Z Entertainment—particularly with SB19, for whom he crafted the moves for hits like “Gento,” “DAM,” and “Dungka.”
He also lends his expertise to the dance reality contest “Stars on the Floor,” which will air its second season on Feb. 15 on GMA 7. Sitting on the judging panel with him are Marian Rivera and Rayver Cruz, with Alden Richards serving as host.
That’s quite the resume for someone who was once doubted, whose dancing many thought wouldn’t amount to much.
“My family wasn’t so sure at first,” he says. “Maraming nagsasabi na hindi ka yayaman diyan, wala kang future diyan, at ‘di ka bubuhayin niyan. But as an artist, ‘di nila nakikita ‘yong vision mo, ‘yong pinapakita sa ‘yo ni Lord. ‘Di nila nararamdaman ‘yong nararamdaman ng puso mo.”
Faith in God
But, as one might expect, the path to success wasn’t a smooth one.
Roncesvalles has had his share of challenges and personal tragedies, the most life-changing of which was the death of his beloved mother. It left a hole in his heart, he recalls, draining his hope and motivation to dance. In turn, he developed vices and, at one point, thought about turning his back on dancing.
Thankfully, through his faith in God and with his children as fuel, he found the strength to get back up and start moving once more. And here enters the most crucial ingredient—more than skill, swag, or sheer athleticism: character.
“Hindi lang puro skills dapat. Para sa ‘kin, character din talaga ang mahalaga. Maraming magagaling, pero it’s all about how you keep going and fighting despite trials and hindrances. Do’n ka masusubok,” he points out. “‘Yong sayaw, it becomes the second layer. Ibi-bless ka only if you’re ready to receive it.”
