Fabian Reimair interviewed for "Cupcakes & conversation ..."

Cupcakes & conversation with Fabian Reimair, First Soloist, English National Ballet

You can book to see Reimair dancing the role of Albrecht in Giselle (with his wife Fernanda Oliveira in the title role), in Liverpool on 30th October, in Bristol on 2nd and 7th November, and in Oxford on 21st November. Reimair also dances the role of Hilarion from Giselle in Southampton on 11th November and in Oxford on 19th November.

What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
A cold shower, a hot coffee and the thought of what a nice weekend I just had. Monday is actually quite easy because I'm rested. I do need motivation on a Friday afternoon though.

Who would you most like to dance with ?
My wife of course, but if she isn't around, I would ask one of the 'Ballroom' champions - I admire their precision, that is something I would love to try. (Reimair married ENB Principal dancer, Fernanda Oliveira in July, in Ernegg Castle, Lower Austria).

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
If we are not performing, I get up at 8.30, go to work for class at 10.30, rehearse whatever is next on the schedule for me, most days till 18.30. Iif I'm lucky, I finish earlier or have a long break in between, time to hit the gym for some workout or a quick badminton session (my hobby). After work we probably do some food shopping and cooking at home and as you know there is always some catching up with "real life" to do - paying bills, making phone calls and answering emails, things I don't have time for during the day. Later at night, I like crashing on my sofa.

You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
Richard Branson, Kanye West and Al Pacino for some career advice, Jimmy Carr for the entertainment, Gordon Ramsay to do the cooking and my famous best friend Aleks to share this experience with me.

What would surprise people about you ?
How tidy I am - I just love to clean, clear and organize.

Who inspired you to dance ?
Apart from my mum, who put me into ballet, I have to say some of the dancers from the Vienna State Opera. When I was around 14 and still in ballet school, we used to go and watch some rehearsals on stage and I was fascinated.

How would someone else describe you ?
As serious - I think it's hard for people to read my face... until they get to know me.

What is your best piece of advice ?
Do now, whatever you can do now - something else will come up later and then you’ll wish you had done it before.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
Maybe 'Perpetuum Mobile' by Christopher Hampson - one of the hardest pas-de-deux’s I've done, with many lifts and a couple of things that can easily go wrong.

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
If you mean stage related: I went to Monte Carlo one summer, to perform Coppélia with the local ballet school. I had to do the role of the 'Burgomaster' and as this wasn't a very challenging role and I used to spend all day in the sun on the beach, it happened that I missed my curtain calls because I fell asleep in the wings, STANDING ! (wasn't funny at the time, because I got told off).

If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
Something big and awkward - like 'Rothbart' (from Swan Lake) : to make it look impressive and danceable is quite difficult - this is more of a challenge than creating a unitard.

What are you most proud of ?
To be able to transfer my upbringing and the values my parents taught me, into my own life.

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
Sasha Baron Cohen? Not because of his Austrian character 'Bruno', but because he is funny and versatile (and a bit of a nutter). You should be able to laugh about yourself...

What is your favourite quote?
Those who know, don't talk and those who talk, don't know a thing.

What’s on your iPod ?
Where do I start? I've got around 11,000 songs on my iPod, ranging from classical music to gangster rap. I can't single out songs, but some of my favourite artists include: Philip Glass, The Cranberries, Enya and Nas.

Do you have a secret skill which no one knows about ?
Lots - but they are so secret, even I don't know about them :-)