Eve Musto interviewed for "Cupcakes & Conversation ..."

Cupcakes & conversation with Eve Musto, Soloist, Scottish Ballet


Photograph : Andrew Ross

In their special 40th anniversary year, Scottish Ballet has received an exceptional birthday present from Clarence House: a Royal Patronage from HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay.

Scottish Ballet begin their sparkling 40th Anniversary tour featuring George Balanchine’s Rubies, alongside Krzysztof Pastor’s In Light and Shadow and new to the repertoire, William Forsythe’s Workwithinwork, and can be tomorrow in London (and until Saturday) at Sadlers Wells, and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness through October.

What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
My 13 month old daughter who is sunshine in my life and gets me going early every morning. Also need a good big cup of coffee !

Who would you most like to dance with ?
Strong and smart partners.

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
I use Bloch pointe shoes, so I need to hammer them quite a bit and then I sew elastics and ribbons and wear them for class.


Eve Musto and Gregory Dean in Krzysztof Pastor's In Light and Shadow
Photograph : Merlin Hendy

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
From 7am until 9 I’m a busy Mum getting everything ready for the day. Between 10am and 6pm I’m concentrating on my work, rehearsing three ballets for our autumn season. From 6.30pm until 9 is family time. By 11pm I’m dead and need my bed.

You can ask six famous people to dinner – who would you invite ?
George Clooney, Helen Mirren, Jamie Oliver

What would surprise people about you ?
I make a mean rhubarb crumble cake.

Who inspired you to dance ?
Seeing Swan Lake when I was five years old, so Odette probably.

How would someone else describe you ?
Outgoing, funny and direct ... and a little bit of madness for a spice !

What is your best piece of advice ?
Treat people how you would like to be treated !


Eve Musto and Erik Cavallari in George Balanchine's Agon
Photograph : Andrew Ross

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
Most of Balanchine’s repertory because of the speed and style of the movement.

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
A beautiful empire line dress, floaty and light.

What are you most proud of ?
My daughter and my husband, and my family in Estonia !

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
Nicole Kidman, thank you very much !


Eve Musto in George Balanchine's Rubies
Photograph : Bill Cooper

What is your favourite quote ?
“What doesn’t kill you...makes you stronger.”

Do you have a secret skill which no-one knows about ?
I went to Glasgow School of Art and can make beautiful ceramic pots and tableware from scratch.

A Dream of Africa

Sunday, 27th September 2009
The Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music
London

Every now and then, like-minded people collaborate and generously give their time for a good cause. Masterminded by Henry Roche and Penny David, ‘A Dream of Africa’ was born - a heady mix of ballet and music to celebrate the lives of Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, and to raise funds for Ghana charity Ashanti Development.

Presented by Stephanie Lane, there were some wonderful musical interludes, skilfully played on the cello by Adrian Bradbury, piano by Henry Roche and Oliver Davies and violin by Robert Gibbs, but as this is the place for ballet, I have omitted the details here.


Song Without Words, Leticia Stock supported by Xander Parish & Sergei Polunin
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Our first ballet treat, Song Without Words, choreographed by Vanessa Fenton, follows the composer Mendelssohn’s own view that the Songs should not be interpreted too literally. Leticia Stock, newly graduated to the company (last seen in the Royal Ballet School Annual Matinee performance as Mustardseed from ’The Dream’), looks entirely at home with fellow Company dancers Sergei Polunin & Xander Parish. Dressed in black they were a sharp trio. Stock in particular has an aura about her that compels you to watch her dancing.


Song Without Words
Photo : Brenda Spooner

The St Paul’s School String Quartet accompanied Coincide and Collide (2009), which showed off newly promoted & beguiling Leanne Cope, in inky black, partnered by another newcomer, Tristan Dyer (graduate of The Royal Ballet School).


Coincide and Collide (2009), Leanne Cope and Tristan Dyer
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Cope has exquisite fluidity of movement and the pair handled the tricky off-balance turns & lifts with finesse to spare, as though they had been dancing together for years. Samantha Raine choreographed this piece which premiered at St Pauls two days earlier.


Coincide and Collide (2009)
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Who wouldn’t love a purple costume ? Liam Scarlett chose well for his dancers Emma-Jane Maguire and Ryoichi Hirano, dancing to Chopin. A World Premiere, Scarlett is already well established as a choreographer of note. Nocturne is a classical piece of interlocking arms, Maguire light and flowing with twittering feet, and Hirano a strong partner in the softly enfolding lifts.


Nocturne, Emma-Jane Maguire, Ryoichi Hirano
Photo : Brenda Spooner

MacMillan’s Concerto pas de deux, with Mara Galeazzi and Gary Avis, in dazzling colour, is slow and sculptural.


Concerto, Mara Galeazzi, Gary Avis
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Such movements require absolute control and Avis showed again just why he is such a highly regarded dance partner. Both were assured and serene throughout.


Concerto
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Our second World Premiere of the night, Dream Study, by Erico Montes, saw Romany Pajdak, Celisa Diuana and Claire Calvert bourrée backwards across the stage and dance with and away from each other, split by arabesques and beautifully shaped arms.


Dream Study, Romany Pajdak, Celisa Diuana, Claire Calvert
Photo : Brenda Spooner

To close the evening, a story of young love. A young man is tempted to stray from his fiancée by a band of gypsies, but in the final pas de deux from The Two Pigeons, he realises that the grass is not always greener and is reunited with his true love.


The Two Pigeons, Leanne Cope, Paul Kay
Photo : Brenda Spooner

The pigeons themselves were absent, but the title is a metaphor for the young couple in the central roles.


The Two Pigeons
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Leanne Cope’s characterisation of Ashton’s clever choreography references the pigeons throughout, all dreamy fluttering hands and head. Cope is admirably partnered by Paul Kay, attentive, romantic, and delightful. Perfectly matched. Perfection.


The Two Pigeons
Photo : Brenda Spooner

Darcey Bussell & Strictly Come Dancing

The "Darcey Bussell" rose, bred by David Austin Roses

Darcey Bussell, retired Prima Ballerina with The Royal Ballet, coaches the "dysfunctional family" of Strictly contestants at The Royal Ballet School in Covent Garden. Skip through to 1.28, unless you want to watch the wonderful professionals showing how two of next week's dances should be done, in which case stop slightly earlier ! They are sensational.



Bussell returns from her home in Australia for the last three Strictly shows in December, as a guest judge.

ROYAL BALLET GALA TOMORROW EVENING

Mara Galeazzi
Photo : Viacheslav Samodurov

Here are the very latest details for tomorrow nights show. As I type this, there are a few tickets left so if you are keen to see the dancers of The Royal Ballet performing World Premieres in a unique setting, please do book quickly ! Unusually for a Gala night, the tickets are extremely good value - just £28, all of which goes to charity.

The number to call is : 0207 837 3172

Song Without Words - Vanessa Fenton / Mendelssohn
Leticia Stock, Xander Parish, Sergei Polunin

Coincide and Collide (2009)- Samantha Raine / Guy Wood
Leanne Cope, Tristan Dyer
St. Paul’s School String Quartet

New Pas de Deux (world premiere)- Liam Scarlett / Chopin
Emma-Jane Maguire, Ryoichi Hirano

INTERVAL

Concerto – Pas de Deux - MacMillan / Shostakovich
Mara Galeazzi, Gary Avis

Dream Study (world premiere) - Erico Montes / Moscheles
Romany Pajdak, Celisa Diuana, Claire Calvert

The Two Pigeons – final Pas de Deux - Ashton / Messager
Leanne Cope, Paul Kay


Watercolour by Sarah

There will also be some musical interludes which I have not included here.

The Gala will be held at The Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS, at 7.30pm tomorrow evening - September 27th 2009.

All money raised will help tackle extreme poverty in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, and bring clean water to Ashanti villages.

Additionally, the charity are always looking out for volunteer teachers, so even if you are not based in the UK, you can always help ! Please get in touch if this is of interest to you.

Brian Maloney interviewed for "Cupcakes & conversation ..."

Cupcakes & conversation with Brian Maloney, Soloist, The Royal Ballet



What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
A strong coffee.

Who would you most like to dance with ?
Sylvie Guillem if she was 6 inches shorter or Gelsey Kirkland if she was 30 years younger.

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
The main focus now is getting back in shape after the summer holidays. We are just starting the season so not the normal schedule but I am up at 8 and in the Opera house at 9 to warm up for class at 10:30. We are to beginning rehearsals for Mayerling so I’ll have around three or four hours of that, which will mostly be recapping and learning some new roles. Following that will be some calorie burning running on the Precor machine and a few hours of Pilates and stretching. The fight back to full fitness seems to be a huge struggle!


www.palhansen.com

You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
Barack Obama, Fidel Castro, Mats Ek, Gabriel Yared, Nelson Mandela and Meryl Streep.

What would surprise people about you ?
That I love the ridiculous and love to be reduced to hysterical fits of laughter.

Who inspired you to dance ?
My sister and (Mikhail) Baryshnikov.

How would someone else describe you ?
Steadfast and stubborn.



What is your best piece of advice ?
Find deep belief in yourself and what you are doing.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
Probably Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet as the steps themselves are very tricky but more importantly it is difficult to achieve the right balance of pathos and comedy.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
Quite often on stage things take on an inordinate hilarity precisely because you are not allowed to laugh. When playing “Eros” in “Sylvia” I had to stand as a statue on a raised platform above a fountain for nearly 50 minutes. Trying to stay still is quite a challenge and one performance some of the huntresses came by, stood at the fountain, and commented loudly enough for me to hear on the size and attributes of the fig leaf covering my anatomy. I was powerless to suppress my laughter.

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
A perfect fitting tunic that allowed complete freedom for the arms.

What are you most proud of ?
My family.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
Paul Newman.


www.palhansen.com

What is your favourite quote ?
‘Never, never, never, never give up’ - Churchill, and ‘All the world steps aside for the man who knows where he’s going’ - my Father.



What’s on your iPod ?
A huge variety from Chopin to Eminem.

Do you have a secret skill which no one knows about ?
I speak French and Russian and play the piano.


www.palhansen.com

From Student to Star : Freya Thomas

I am delighted to show another specially commissioned drawing by Sarah, a naturally gifted artist, to introduce this latest interview series. Sarah’s brief was to depict the dancers’ progression from student to professional, and the resulting sketch perfectly represents that transition.

From Student to Star is a series of interviews featuring Graduates as they begin their professional careers, and will be following them regularly.

Freya Thomas graduated from The Royal Ballet School this summer.



What were you most looking forward to about joining Bayerisches Staatsballett, Munich ?

I was most looking forward to achieving my ambition of becoming a professional dancer in a top class company. I was excited by the opportunity to learn new roles and dance in ballets by choreographers who have created work especially for the Bavarian State Ballet and by being able to live and work with dancers from all around the world and experience a different country’s culture.

I was also very much looking forward to wearing my own dance clothes in class! It may be easy to get up and put on your school uniform leotards but it gives you a bit more personality to wear your own things.


How is Company life different from your student days ?

Life as a student was very regimented with a fixed timetable for each day of the week. In a company the days are much more varied with classes and rehearsals and performances arranged as needed. Some days I will be working from first thing in the morning to late at night and other days I may have a couple of hours off in the middle of the day and then have to come back in for the evening. Today for example I had class at ten followed by rehearsals until two, then nothing until a stage call from six to ten tonight. Weekends are also working days if needed! Being in a company also means you have to be more independent and take responsibility for your own development.



What are your best achievements as a student ?

Completing 8 years of training at The Royal Ballet School, both at White Lodge and The Upper School, was a huge achievement and in fact I was the only girl in my year group to join in year 7 and graduate last July. Whilst at school I was a finalist in the Young British Dancer of the Year competition for 3 years running and won the Sibley/Dowell Award for the most promising student in 2007. I also had the opportunity to dance in numerous productions with the Royal Ballet Company at The Royal Opera House, including Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadère and The Sleeping Beauty and I was lucky enough to go on tour with them to China, Japan and Hong Kong, which was a phenomenal experience.


Which professional dancer/s do you most admire and why ?

I admire so many dancers, it’s difficult to know where to begin, however Lauren Cuthbertson has always been an inspiration to me. To watch her perform you can see just how much she has thought about every single gesture; no movement or expression is unimportant. She makes her dancing look so natural and effortless it is incredible to watch. I also admire her humility and wicked sense of humour; qualities all good dancers should have.

What do you think you will bring to Bayerisches Staatsballett, Munich ?

I hope to bring all of the exceptional knowledge that my teachers at the Royal Ballet School have instilled in me over the last 8 years together with my dedication and determination to succeed in all I do. I would like to think that I will be a happy and pleasant dancer to work with and also as the only English dancer in the company I shall introduce them to the joys of eating Marmite!

How have you found your first days there ?

I have been in the company for two weeks now and have really enjoyed myself. The very first day I was a little nervous about meeting everyone but they were very friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed company class but then I had to do a rehearsal for a contemporary work which threw me completely out of my comfort zone. Although I enjoy dancing contemporary pieces I find them more challenging to pick up at speed than traditional classical vocabulary. I survived however and now we are rehearsing for Raymonda which opens on Wednesday and I am really enjoying the work and looking forward to taking my first steps on the stage of the beautiful National Theatre.

Which role would you most like to dance ?

I love to jump (my nickname at school was Tigger!) so I would enjoy dancing roles such as Gamzatti in La Bayadère or Myrtha in Giselle. It is every tall girl’s dream to dance the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty and I am no exception. Ever since I first saw it I have also always wanted to dance in D.G.V. by Christopher Wheeldon (Danse à grande vitesse).


What would you say to those students entering their Graduate year now ?

Take each day as it comes, there is no point worrying over things you can’t do anything about. Keep smiling and audition for everything you can. Even if you don’t end up with a contract, it’s good experience.



Where would you like to be this time next year ?

I would like to be well established in the corps de ballet, and hopefully understanding a lot more German than I do now!

Elsa Godard interviewed for "Cupcakes & Conversation ..."

Cupcakes & Conversation with Elsa Godard, Artist, The Royal Ballet


Photo : Anais Godard

What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
I feel really lucky to do my job. It's always fascinating to learn and discover something every day, to give the most of ourselves. And the best thing is to know that we can enjoy it on stage and hopefully make people in the audience dream as well...

Who would you most like to dance with ?
There are so many great artists in the "ballet world". I find it difficult to pick one person out of all the wonderful dancers - I really appreciate what they do. I think the most important thing is that there is a real connection between the two partners. If something true is shared between the two of them, then it should be a moment to enjoy.

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
First, I darn the end of the shoes and cut the satin to make it less slippery. I sew the ribbons and elastics, and take off the nail on the "heel part" of the shoe. Then I slice off a bit of the bottom part of the sole with a Stanley knife to make the shoe more stable. I usually need to do this operation several times a week, so I generally sew a couple of them in a row, so that if one of them wears out.... a few others are already waiting to be worn!

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
At the moment, it's only the beginning of the season. The day starts with a ballet class at 10.30am, followed by rehearsals in the afternoon which can go on until 6.30pm. It gets busier once the shows start. Rehearsals then go on to 5.30, then we have a 2 hour break in which we get some dinner and prepare ourselves for the show about to start!

You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
There are so many people I find really interesting. Johnny Depp, Anthony Hopkins, Mr Baryshnikov, and Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Alfred Hitchcock.


Photo: Johan Persson

What would surprise people about you ?
People usually say I'm a quiet person, but I laugh louder than one would think!

Who inspired you to dance ?
As a child, I loved watching Fred Astaire's movies. This was a "dance and music" dimension I really enjoyed. Then my mum and sister registered me into a small ballet school, and "ballet" quickly became a real passion. I got to know my great teacher Dominique Khalfouni... She taught me so much, as much technically as emotionally.

How would someone else describe you ?
I feel I need to ask my friends and family to answer this question... according to them, I'm shy but spontaneous, honest, and really stubborn!

What is your best piece of advice ?
Never give up, work hard, stay authentic, and hang on tightly to your dreams...

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
As a corp de ballet, all the big productions such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty & La Bayadere are real challenges stamina wise, and also to stay coordinated and form a harmonious whole with all the other girls in the corp. But if I had to pick one ballet, I would say Serenade by George Balanchine. This is a half hour ballet, which doesn't really stop, and this makes it quite hard to catch your breath ... but the music is so outstanding that it makes you forget the difficulty of the steps and lets you fully enjoy the moment. It taught me a lot about how to deal with difficulty and just enjoy every minute of the show... a lesson that helps me with any other productions now.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
It was actually in a dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker. We were doing Snowflakes, and I lost my wig on stage! I ended up with my Snowflake dress, a wig in my hand and my stocking top on my head! (it’s a bald cap worn underneath a wig to hide traces of real hair). What a look! I can now laugh about it, but it was not actually as funny at the time.... it was one of the first times I danced on that great stage!


Photo : Johan Persson

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
I would create a really floaty dress, preferably a light pink or even white... A bit of a Juliet (from Romeo & Juliet) type of dress.

What are you most proud of ?
My family.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
I would love to say Audrey Hepburn if she was still alive...

What is your favourite quote ?
Rise above the storm, and you will find the sunshine.

Crystal Costa interviewed for "Cupcakes & Conversation ..."

Cupcakes & conversation with Crystal Costa, First Soloist, English National Ballet


Costa is currently rehearsing her favourite role, Giselle which she will perform for the first time with English National Ballet during the Autumn tour. Costa dances Giselle in Southampton on 12th November & 14th November (eve) and in Oxford on 20th November (eve). Costa dances the Peasant pas de deux from Giselle in Manchester on 24th September (mat) and 26th September (eve) and in Bristol on 4th November and in Oxford on 17th November.


Crystal Costa has been nominated for The Emerging Dancer Award, an annual competition for English National Ballet to recognise and nurture the phenomenal talent of their up-and-coming dancers. The Award encourages excellence and potential within the Company, with the winner being awarded a £5,000 cash prize.

During the Summer English National Ballet’s artistic, musical, administrative staff and Principal dancers have been voting for their Emerging Dancer and there are 6 nominated dancers.

Throughout the Autumn Tour of Giselle and the Christmas Season you are invited to vote for your favourite of the six nominees, giving you the chance to win some fabulous prizes (including; four tickets to an English National Ballet performance of your choice* and two tickets to the Awards Evening on 25th February 2010, where the six nominees will perform a solo to a panel of judges from the dance world. *Tickets can be redeemed for any performance in any venue that English National Ballet will perform at in the UK during 2010).

The dancer with the most public votes will win The People’s Choice Award. Voting opens on Wednesday 23 September. You can vote as many times as you like via the website or in any of the venues throughout the Autumn and Christmas seasons.

What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
To be honest, it’s the prospect of my first morning coffee…

Who would you most like to dance with ?
Fred Astaire by far.

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
I used to do crazy things to my shoes like take in material from the sides to try to make them look as nice as possible, but now after going through so many, I just do the bare essentials: sew on ribbons, elastics and then darn them.

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
Right now we are in the rehearsal stages before all the touring begins, so it’s that nice feeling of a working process and getting into the roles. So it’s class and rehearsals all day and I’m able to spend time with my friends in London after that.


You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
Baryshnikov, Evelyn Hart, Jamie Oliver (or actually hopefully he’d be the chef), Kurt Browning, David Letterman, and my sister.

What would surprise people about you ?
My mom is Chinese and my dad is Portuguese.

Who inspired you to dance ?
I guess I got inspiration from dancers around me all the time, but especially my first ballet teachers and I’ve always admired Evelyn Hart.

How would someone else describe you ?
Depends who you ask, I’ve heard everything from “you’re actually blonde” to “neurotic”, to “loveable”.

What is your best piece of advice ?
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
I can’t pinpoint any certain role that has tested me more than others. When I think of challenging roles I’ve had such as Aurora, Odette/Odile, Giselle, I realize how they are all incredibly challenging in their own right and have all given me something different. With every role I’ve done, I always find a challenge to experience something special on stage in the most honest way by being as true and real to the character as I can yet still keeping true to myself.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
Well I don’t know if this is the funniest, but it’s something I’ll never forget… When I used to live in Hong Kong, I locked myself out of my flat three times in probably about two months. I got to know the locksmith fairly well and he basically confessed to me that he can just about break in to any flat and kind of suggested that prior to his job of helping people with their locks, he was a very good thief. Oh and I guess if you ask my friends they’d probably tell you the story of my first experience on eBay, where I ended up winning a bid for a used bike for more than I could buy a brand new one for…and on top of that I had to go all the way to Reading to pick it up.

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
Something very very comfortable that would make me feel free to dance just like I feel in the studio.


What are you most proud of ?
My family.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
A film of my life eh…hehe, well I guess my sister since everywhere we go people ask us if we’re twins even though I’m four and half years older, and I think she gets my sense of humour more than anyone.

What is your favourite quote ?
I have a lot of quotes I like, but a recent one I’ve added to the list is, “The origin of suffering is attachment.” Guatama Buddha.

Do you have a secret skill which no-one knows about ?
I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with just my tongue…although come to think of it, a few people might know about that one.

Builders swap trowels for tutu's

This clip has just arrived - trust me, it's worth watching !

Builders working on the new home of Northern Ballet Theatre, spent the day learning what it takes to be a ballet dancer. They've raised a lot of money for charity in the process.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF SCOTTISH BALLET AT TRAMWAY

Photo : Andrew Ross

Scotland’s national dance company celebrates the opening of its new home

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution Mike Russell, Scottish Ballet Principal Claire Robertson, and Scottish Ballet Mid-Associate Scott McKenzie celebrate the official opening of Scottish Ballet’s brand new custom built premises at Tramway.

To mark this historic moment for Scottish Ballet, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, Mr Russell unveiled the donor wall, engraved with the names of those who contributed financially to the Tramway project.


Photo : Andrew Ross

Claire Robertson’s dazzling jewel-encrusted costume is from George Balanchine’s Rubies, a piece which will be performed by the Company as part of Scottish Ballet’s 40th Anniversary Season, which tours to London and across Scotland throughout October. Twelve-year-old Scott McKenzie, from Dum, is a member of Scottish Ballet’s celebrated Associate Programme, a training scheme which prepares young people with an aptitude for movement for a career in dance.

Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
"I was delighted to learn in May that Scottish Ballet had succeeded in reaching its Tramway Appeal fundraising target and that our national dance company would finally be moving to the purpose-built premises it deserves. The strides Scottish Ballet is making in its educational programmes will encourage talented Scottish-based dancers to train and remain here in Scotland. With a diverse programme, the Company is making culture and the arts more accessible to the people of Scotland whilst further enhancing Scottish Ballet's international reputation. This collaboration between Scottish Ballet and the Tramway Theatre shows how partnerships between cultural organisations can reap great rewards."

I will have much more for you from the Company as they begin their 40th Anniversary Season.

Amy Coughlan interviewed for "Cupcakes & Conversation ..."

Cupcakes & Conversation with Amy Coughlan, Professional Dancer, Ballet Theatre UK



What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
I awake each morning to my alarm playing ‘Hey There Delilah’ by the Plain White T’s. It is one of my favourite tunes and calms me for my day ahead; also you can't beat a good breakfast and listening to a bit of music.

What are you looking forward to about joining Ballet Theatre UK ?
I am looking forward to the challenge of learning a variety of roles and putting in practice what I have been working towards for the past three years. It will be fun working with other Company members and travelling to many different venues around the UK and Wales – I am sure we will have a few tales to tell between us! I must admit being paid to dance is an added bonus.

Who would you most like to dance with ?
I would love to have the chance to dance with either Edward Watson or Eric Underwood.

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
After the ritual of sewing the ribbons and elastics, I bend the back of my pointe shoes with my hands and carefully stand on the block to soften and slightly flatten the block. Finally, I walk around on demi-pointe followed by slow rises and relevés.

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
At the moment I work for a temping Agency and my assignments so far have been working at Harrods. I try and attend ballet classes at Pineapple as often as I can.

You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
I’d invite Jamie Oliver for his culinary skills
Lee Evans to bring hilarity to the table
Moira Shearer and Sarah Lamb who are my inspirations of the past and present
Kate Hudson, she’s beautiful
Johnny Depp, well what can I say…….!


Photo : Bill Cooper

What would surprise people about you ?
My culinary skills, as I really enjoy a good cooking session to see what I can create and my enjoyment of mathematics; except if it involves a spreadsheet.

Who inspired you to dance ?
Moira Shearer inspired me to dance after watching her in ‘The Red Shoes’ at the age of 4. From then onwards I was determined to become a ballet dancer and own a pair of red pointe shoes; I finally received the red pointe shoes for my 21st.

How would someone else describe you ?
Just recently have been described as approachable, friendly and that I always have a smile on my face.

What is your best piece of advice ?
Believe in yourself and don’t let others knock you down.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
Paquita, Paquita, Paquita!!!!

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
Before joining Central (School of Ballet) I performed the ‘Scottish Reel’ from ‘Les Sylphides’. We practised and practised and then one time for a performance we all came out on stage, the lights came up and everyone was there on stage with their partners but me, I looked to the side of the stage and there he was looking at me and waving!! At the time it wasn’t funny but when I joined Central I had to laugh as the first dance we learnt in our Dance Studies sessions was………'Scottish Reel'!!!!! I’m also very well known for my blonde moments!

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
I’d like to design the costume Darcey Bussell wears for Elite Syncopations but in a shade of purple with purple pointe shoes! It's such a sophisticated and stylised costume and I am obsessed with the colour purple!



What are you most proud of ?
Being accepted into Central School of Ballet and graduating into a professional Company - Ballet Theatre UK.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
It would have to be Kate Hudson.

What is your favourite quote ?
‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gunna get’ – Forrest Gump

Do you have a ‘signature step’ – one that comes naturally to you ?
I suppose my arabesque. I am told I have a lovely clear, good, classical line.

A phrase I use far too often is ... ?
‘If you think about it…..’
‘Purely based on the fact that…….’

What’s been your best on-stage moment so far ?
Performing Titania’s solo from George Balanchine’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for my graduation solo.

Do you have a secret skill which no-one knows about ?
I do but it’s a secret!!