Adela Ramirez interviwed for Cupcakes & Conversation...

Cupcakes & conversation with Adela Ramirez, First Soloist, English National Ballet


What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
I am a morning person, so I wake up around 6:45am every morning and it is not hard for me because I just do what I love the most.

Who would you most like to dance with ?
One of my idols has been Baryshnikov, so I wouldn't mind doing a contemporary pas de deux with him.

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
It's a very long task !!! It is a very annoying time of the day! First I cut half of the sole, second I sew the elastics and ribbons & third I stick a piece of tape in the sole. Afterwards I sew the front of the pointe shoes to have more balance, and to finish I put some glue inside the pointe shoe.

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
I wake up early, I have a few coffees with cereal and cookies. After a shower I then commute for 35 minutes on the tube and another 5 or 10 on the bus, depending on the traffic. I normally arrive 45 minutes before class so in this time I do some Pilates to warm up, then class for an hour and fifteen minutes, and two hours of rehearsal. After that we have an hour’s break and carry on until 6:30pm which is when the day finishes at work; but then we have a nice healthy dinner at home.


You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
Roger Federer, James Morrison, Kiefer Sutherland, Javier Varden, Pedro Almodóvar & Manolo Garcia.

What would surprise people about you ?
People think I'm very open and loud, but the truth is, I'm very shy.

Who inspired you to dance ?
Makarova and Baryshnikov were the ones who inspired me.

How would someone else describe you ?
Some friends say I am extrovert.


What is your best piece of advice ?
Be perseverant in your dreams.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
That will be Odette (the White Swan, from Swan Lake) without doubt. You have to be thinking of arms, legs, feet, all the way. You have to be soft as a feather.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
When I forgot my very bright blue leg warmers on top of the grave of Juliet in a performance (of Romeo & Juliet).

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
Probably I would design something simple and sexy – a leotard for a contemporary piece.


What are you most proud of ?
I'm proud of where I am thanks to my hard work, also of my family - they are beautiful people.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
Juliette Lewis. I like her freshness.

What is your favourite quote ?
Speech is silver, silence is gold.

Do you have a secret skill which no-one knows about ?
Not that I know of. All my friends know me very well.