Lehigh Valley Moms is SO EXCITED to introduce Jessica Collado, a principal dancer at the Houston Ballet who is currently starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Jessica was kind enough to take some time out of her busy (and I mean insanely busy) schedule to give us a glimpse of what mom life looks like behind the scenes of the professional ballet world.
Welcome to the Lehigh Valley, Jessica! We are so pumped you are here! Is this your first time in the area?
I’m super excited to be here as well! And yes, this is my first time to Bethlehem or anywhere in this area.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in South Florida and started dancing when I was about four. I went to a little studio and did every type of dancing… Ballet, tap, jazz. We also did a lot of competitions in the area so I was exposed to the art of performing at a very young age. When I was about 13, my father had a job transfer and our family moved to the suburbs of Atlanta. I still loved dancing at that time and finding a new studio was number one on my priority list. Deciding to focus more on Ballet, I started attending at a studio called Gwinnett Ballet Theatre that had really wonderful training. Our director would also bring in professionals for Nutcracker much like PYB. During my summers, I would venture out to different companies for intensive programs and that’s when I fell in love with Houston Ballet. They had offered me a scholarship which, of course was helpful for my parents, and I truly fell in love with the company there… the diversity of repertoire, the instructors. It was also the hardest intensive that I had attended and could see my growth as an artist. So I continued to attend summer after summer. My parents were very adamant on me graduating high school at home before moving away, something that I now thank them for 🙂 , and after I graduated high school, I moved to Houston to attend their pre-professional program. After a year in what is now called HB2, I was offered a contract in the main company. This is now my 22 season with Houston Ballet and have been a principal since 2017.
When did you know you wanted to be a professional ballerina and what steps did you take to make that happen?
I went to a normal public high school when I was growing up, which is very rare nowadays when you talk to professional dancers. Most of them left at a young age to attend a performing arts high schools or some sort of conservatory. After a full day at school, I would then head to my studio and dance and rehearse until around 9 PM. I would then come home for dinner and do my homework until the wee hours of the morning, only need to wake up at the crack of dawn and do it all over again. How I survived my high school years I really don’t know… But there wasn’t any way that I was going to slow down dancing. I think that’s when I knew it was something worth fighting for and something that I wanted to be a part of my life. Missing prom or homecoming because I had a performance was a choice that I wanted to make, and I was happy with that. When I graduated high school I applied to both colleges with Dance programs as well as auditioned for companies. And that’s when I realized that following my connection with Houston Ballet was the right choice.
How did your focus shift when you became a mom?
Crazy enough I met my husband while grocery shopping at Whole Foods… A true testament to ‘you never know when you’re gonna meet “the one” (haha). We both felt similarly about wanting a family, and after a few years of marriage, we decided to start trying.
There has always been this stigma about Ballet dancers being mothers and, back in the day, you had to choose one or the other. I’ve met a lot of older dancers who have regretted their choice one way or another, but I feel that that stigma is slowly being broken, and the reality of being both is possible. I will not lie when I say that being a professional dancer is more of a lifestyle than a career. It trickles down into almost every facet of your life and requires a level of commitment like no other- but I was ready for the challenge of tackling both. Now that I have two children, I can honestly say that being a mother makes me a better dancer, and being a dancer makes me a better mother. They put everything into perspective, and are a constant reminder of what is important.
How do you balance being a principal dancer at the Houston Ballet (easily a top company in the US for those who aren’t familiar) with being a mom?
It takes a village! My husband is my rock and is so supportive of my career and the difficult schedule that it requires, often needing to be the more flexible one with our children. We also have an amazing nanny. And at times when we are really in a pinch, I’ll take them to work and they love it! Luckily we live quite close to the studios, so if I have an unexpected break, I try and run home to see them. The days are long, full and require a lot of scheduling, but I make it work and wouldn’t have it any other way.
You are starring as the Sugar Plum Fairly in the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s 2025 Nutcracker– what are you looking forward to most about the performances?
Being here is this beautiful reminder of where I came from…a similar studio with aspiring young dancers. I was them once, so it is a very fulfilling, full circle moment for me.
What do you believe your children enjoy most about having a mom who is such an accomplished dancer?
I love exposing them to this great art form. My son , who is 5 1/2, is such a little performer, whether that ends up being through dance, or theater, or music…I can tell he is drawn to it. He’s loves the Nutcracker, although he wishes the battle scene lasted a lot longer! My little girl, almost 2, it’s constantly walking around on her toes and stretching her splits… Something that I promise I have never shown her… So we’ll see where she ends up!
Do you have any advice for moms who have children with dreams of becoming a professional dancer?
Go for it! It requires an immense amount of drive and dedication, but can be greatly fulfilling. Unfortunately, I do feel that the field of dance is only becoming more and more competitive, but staying true to your individuality is what will set you apart.
Finally, what have you enjoyed most about your time in the Lehigh Valley? Any local spots you’d like to shout out?
It is such a charming place! With the friendliest people! I’m currently sitting at the coffee shop Lit which is fab and we had a great meal at Orchid Steakhouse last night. I stopped into an adorable children’s store on Main Street called Sonny Moon. I’m excited to explore more on Main Street as well as Christkindmarkt.
