LOCAL Houston | The City Guide MARCH 2015 | Page 40

Local March 2015FINAL.qxp_002houston 2/21/15 3:42 PM Page 40

SPORTS
JESSICA COLLADO
FIRST SOLOIST OF THE HOUSTON BALLET
JERSEY OR TUTU? Ballet is a sport as much as it is an art. Just ask first soloist of the Houston Ballet, JESSICA
COLLADO. “I don’t think people realize how athletic our job is and physically grueling. Ballet is the perfect

combination of the two, taking a sport and turning it into an art. The physicality and endurance – we
make it look effortless at the same time.” Just like football players perform on the field before 1000s of
people, ballerinas perform on a stage in front of 1000s of people too. “It’s hard that you train and practice so much; you get this pressure to deliver the perfect performance and you get the nerve from the
audience,” says Collado. “When I’m on stage I try to have fun; my body knows what it’s going to do
once I’m on there.” Collado starts off her