Back to Ballet

After 6 months maternity leave I’m officially back to work !

The last six months have been incredibly difficult for us all. Coronavirus has been like a wrecking ball through society, affecting all of us in some way or another. I know that every industry has suffered but it has been so difficult seeing the arts industry struggle through yet another disaster as huge areas of the workforce have lost their jobs. I have to say that I feel massively privileged to work for the Royal Opera House, they have managed to protect our jobs and we have had support that I know has been lacking for so many of my colleagues outside the ROH.
On a happier note, during this time I delivered ( with quite a struggle ) a little baby boy called Forrest Rodney Cowley St Clair ! He weighed a healthy 7lbs 7 with a dark mop of hair. Everyday my love for him gets stronger, it sometimes feels like my heart could explode from the love! I have been very fortunate that he’s been a great sleeper, sleeping through the night, and then a little more but I hear that could change any moment so counting my blessings now !

For me, being at home during this precious 6 month maternity leave has at times been odd. It is supposed to be a time when you nest, do the most simple of things like going shopping with your mum for baby clothes, having coffees with friends while showing off your little bundle. A lot of my friends haven’t even seen Forrest yet and my family only a few times. But it was the year when these sacrifices had to be made, so like everyone else you just have to suck it up and stay home !

I didn’t know what to expect from my time away from ballet. I knew that it would be uncomfortable and strange. Ballet has been my constant daily companion for many years, it would be hard to give up that daily contact. I was preparing for my baby, watching how my body was changing every day while also missing my routine. It was emotionally stressful and certainly I felt the anxiety. Of course I loved that I was growing a human and I couldn’t wait to meet my child but sometimes I was just desperate to back to my old routine with the world as it used to be !

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and that has certainly been the case for me. I have really missed Ballet. Especially to see it on such shaky ground. I very rarely watch ballet when performing but I have noticed I’ve been watching it more than ever, listening to music and visualising the great works.

I’m now ready and at a good place to get back to the job!

So, how do you return to ballet after such a long break? It is a physically demanding art form, like an elite sport in it’s demands. As such taking a break will take its toll, on your body and mind. I have actually found the physical side of getting back easier than the mental side. It is a relief to start moving my body in a familiar way.

My body has massively changed since pregnancy and nursing Forrest. Firstly I need to gain all that muscle I have lost, including tiny but crucial muscles, like big toe pads ! I need to work on flexibility - my hip flexors and upper back have really tightened, I think due to uncomfortable breastfeeding positions. Then when all this is at a certain point I’ll coach and retrain my ballet technique!

 I have been doing my own exercises since Forrest was 3 months and I am also cycling three times a week to improve my cardio and get my heart rate up. It feels great to work up a mild sweat and to wake up muscles that have been unused for too long!

I have started this journey from home, however from now on I have my incredible healthcare team at work who we’ll be guiding to the stage and my amazing women’s health physio, Sam Vincent from Hammersmith Hospital ( who has been with me throughout )is just an email away. Very fortunate to be in excellent hands.

Getting used to my feet in pointe shoes again.

Mentally, the process is a bit more of a struggle. The point of being a dancer is to be on stage and dancing every day. I miss this hugely and the fact that I can’t just jump straight back in is difficult to accept. I suppose on one level what helps is that due to Covid there are no performances anyway. I have concerns too about being back at the standard.  It won’t be easy, but you all know me - I always welcome a challenge !!

I start my one on one lessons this week with my incredible pilates instructor Fiona … wish me luck !

My gorgeous little boy.

Maternity street wear

Here are some maternity street wear looks that I put together before the Covid19 outbreak! I can’t believe we are living through these times, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. I’m trying to stay positive and not be too consumed by media as it can get you really low. Right now I’m living in my maternity leggings and t-shirt at home, I actually need to get some more clothes as I’m rotating every 3 days, and not prepared for this beautiful sunshine we are getting in London.

So these looks are in my 2nd trimester. I went maternity shopping a few times and really trawled the high street but I was really dissatisfied. The selection was pretty dire. There was no colour, just blacks greys and whites, dull cuts and mostly clothes that hide the bump. I’m happy and proud of the bump so I am not going to conform to this look ! So I chose clothes that have space for the belly region, adding zests of colour or unusual cuts. The only thing I have bought that is maternity, are my opaque tights and 2 pairs of jeans which are absolutely essential at this point in the game !

Wore my dress back to front. Think the back design is more interesting and makes the shirt billow in an unusual way.

Going for all whites with lots of pearls for a night out.

Love purple right now and fell in love with this new playsuit.

So comfy and perfect for a growing bump. Obviously wearing maternity tights !

It’s a get things done outfit. Warm, cosy with a London edge.

Wearing a summer dress with winter essentials underneath and on top. Throwing in biker boots for a grungy look.

Wearing my sparkly pinafore dress with poloneck and knee high boots. Got this hat from a vintage shop in Valencia.

Trying to steer clear of ‘frumpy’ in this Adidas boilersuit.

Ready for a hen party. Not so crazy about my shoes but had such sore heels I couldn’t go higher. Could of gone flat but wanted to feel a bit ‘party’ !

While on a weeks holiday - Maternity jeans and a loud top. Great for a holiday capsule.

Hues of browns with some sparkle.

Here with my husband 38 weeks pregnant !

Top Products for a Perfect Ballet Bun

My top hair products for an easy bun in the morning. 

A ballerina’s hairstyle differs hugely depending on what the day ahead holds. If I’m getting ready for a show and I need it sleek then I use all of the products below plus a hairnet. If its just a day of rehearsals with no shows then I’ll certainly use the products but no hairnet and if its a morning in the gym? Well, no products at all - just hair in a pony! However given the new haircut none of this matters at the moment !

Tangle Teaser

This product is brilliant at getting your hair tangle free, especially if you have long hair. I have a quick brush through before I start my ponytail. 

www.tangleteezer.com

Bristle Brush

Feels nice in your hand and smooths out any lumps or bumps. So it’s perfect for a smooth ponytail.

Comb

A good comb is crucial. This pintail comb pictured, with a metal skewer, is great at finding a good parting, ( a nightmare with my hair ) and at keeping it straight. I got mine from Japan but you can now buy these special combs in any local drugstore Boots, Superdrug, or Amazon

Pins & Grips

I need them sturdy so they hold onto the hair. My hair is very flyaway and not that thick, so the smaller ones are ideal for a bun. Luckily we get these pins and grips from work.
Pictured below are the different types of pins I own. I have roughly about 50 altogether

www.boots.com/

Hairbands

Not fussy, but I don’t use any with the metal toggles, they just snag the hair who wants that ?! 

Hairspray

These are my fav. They are light and just brush through without any white flakes afterwards.

Water Spray

For a severe sleek bun water spray is also great. Especially if you have a fringe and you want it back off your face. It makes the hairspray harder and more stubborn. 

https://www.muji.com/uk/

Accessories 

I love a hair accessory, some days you just want to jazz your look up a bit ! Sometimes it’s for practical use. If you just cleaned your mane and don’t want to dirty it with hairspray, but I mostly go for style purposes !

With choreographer Andrew McNicol and dancer Nicol Edmonds

Photography - Andrej Uspenski

In the next couple of weeks I’ll be snapping some gorgeous buns in the Royal Opera House studios for some inspiration, so stay tuned …..

Changing Bodies

I’ve just approached my second trimester and it’s quite incredible how much my body has changed already. This blog shares how I got on with my first 13 weeks and how I am adapting !

EXERCISE

Due to medical advice I’m not dancing on stage, but keeping fit as much as I can for when I do come back on stage after pregnancy. I start my morning with a warm up of pilates or bike for 15mins at a gentle pace. I then go into ballet class and do a light barre and centre. I have recently started doing barre on pointe to keep the strength in my feet, I also feel it works the legs in a slightly different way too. The shift in balance and emphasis creates a much tougher workout than a class in flat shoes. After class I go back to the healthcare suite for more pilates, gyrotonics or gym, whatever my body needs. I am confident that my body will tell me what it needs and I am happy to led by it. This is not an unusual routine, it is pretty much what I do every morning - just not as strenuous. What is peculiar is the feeling that I am doing class and all of these exercises to maintain current ability and strength, not to improve or prepare for a performance or a strenuous day of rehearsals but to plateau. Something I will have to get used to...

POWER PLATE

BODY

If you have read my previous blogs you will know that I talk about diet and how comfortable I am with my body, and right now I have to say it’s no different. I’ve had a few questions over the last couple of weeks. People have asked how I’m going to feel with my body changing so dramatically, as if it’s a ballerinas worst nightmare. I’m sure I feel like any woman in this situation, of course it’s a bit weird to see dramatic changes and sudden weight gain, but you soon get over it! The way I see it is that I have relied on my body for years to perform at a high standard, I’ve asked it time and again to push just that little bit further to enable me to accomplish what I want. Now, I’m asking it to do something amazing - create a human being. I’m just letting it take it’s course and I think that’s pretty cool.

Read more here.

“Should you be eating that cake Olivia?”

“What I eat in a day”

Food

I stopped coffee as soon as I found out I was pregnant which was a massive shock to the system ! I had serious withdrawal headaches and dizziness, but I wanted to cleanse the system and knew the medical need of caffeine would drop. It took about 6 weeks for the worst of those feelings to pass but I’m fine now. However I did miss that morning ritual of grinding my coffee and making a flat white so have started making juices instead. I get my Nutri-bullet out and blend any fruit I have in the bowl or frozen fruit from the freezer. I’ve started recently adding soya yogurt to the mix too which has been a delicious addition. A great way to pack in those vitamins.

Products I have been using…

MAMA MIO

Steering clear of any possible stretch marks, some have said that it’s down to genetics, however friends have sworn by this brand and product. 

Mama Mio

BIO OIL

Again, supposedly great for stretch marks but using this for my whole body to keep it soft. As I’ve noticed a huge difference to my skin, it’s so dry !

Bio Oil

NEALS YARD - Massage Oil

A gorgeous luxurious gift from my buddy Nats, I actually am steering clear of massage for now but using a few drops of this to put in the bath, love it, smells incredible !

Neals Yard

More blogs to come !!!
Stay tuned x

What to expect when you are a ballerina expecting !

 I am super happy to announce that I am PREGNANT !

Me and my partner Henry are beyond excited, we had our 12 week scan last week and couldn’t stop laughing, when we saw this “kiwi’ size thing wiggle inside me, it was incredible, we were beyond happy! So the question is what does this mean for my job? And what a question that is. The career of a ballerina is short and hard and the time-span that a woman has to become pregnant is also short and matches almost exactly the career span of a dancer. As a woman you can put it off as long as you want but eventually a decision must be made – do I want to have children and if so when? Do I have a child early and come back to dancing or do I wait until retirement and risk not being able to get pregnant? Of course, these are not questions that male dancers face….

Ballet has always been first in my life you subconsciously put everything second. I’m sure this is the same for every serious ballet dancer - the amount of big life celebrations, weddings,parties, family get-togethers and holidays that I have missed throughout my career is incredible. Even where you live is something you’ve got to consider - is this good for after a showafter I’ve spent an hour winding down and adrenalin dumping can I get home at 11:30 at night? Relationships take second place for years, that’s why it is so common for dancers to marry other dancers, nobody else has the appreciation of what it takes and the patience to feel loved even when the stresses of ballet are taking over.

But something dawned on me after the scan that this is the first time in my life that I will have to put ballet second. I’m not going to lie, this makes me feel uneasy. All I’ve ever known is how to single-mindedly work hard and strive for that next step in ballet and that has become like an anchor to me, something to hold onto through life’s twists and turns.

Now the pregnancy comes first…. Is this new state what anchors me to life? Do I have to conform to the Hallmark version of pregnancy, its all you ever see and I don’t know any other way yet! I guess this is the beauty of motherhood, you forge your way.

I will be blogging my experience so keep tuned to find out how I get on! Any tips or recommendations for shops, websites, vlogs or just experience, I am all ears !
Please comment below ..

The Jockstrap

‘What do men wear down there ?’ It’s a taboo question but I’m sure many are curious to find what it is. Is it stuffed ? Is it a box ? Well I’ll tell you it’s none of those things, It’s a simple jock strap ! 

It’s made of 70% elastic and 30% cotton. It has an elasticated waist band so there are no restrictions in movement and a pouch at the front to support the genitalia. It looks a bit like a cricket box but it isn’t hard, it is designed purely for support. 

Dependent on costume some men will wear a double jockstrap, for example if you are wearing white or pale tights - there’s no polite way of saying it, you don’t want anything to be too obvious....

Another crucial function of the jockstrap is to lift everything up from between your legs. Ballet requires men to jump, leap and beat their legs together - you can’t do that when you’ve got things swinging around, you don’t want every ballet to be  The Nutcracker! 

Well there you go, that’s a jockstrap ! An important BalletStyle garment. 

Rudolph Nureyev and dancers of The Royal Ballet.

BalletStyle Water Bottle

Ethical hydration

Now on sale!
Please go to my shop page to purchase

Dark Side of Ballet - Halloween Special

Everything needs light and shade, including ballet !
Dark characters add depth to a show, here are my favourites.

Royal Ballet Corps de Ballet

Willis - Giselle. They come up from the graves and make men dance to their deaths.

Natalia Osipova and Gary Avis

Odile - Swan Lake. The bad girl of ballet. I think we would be buddies.

Gary Avis

Koschei - The Firebird. Not quite looking the picture of health!

Itziar Mendizabal

The Queen of hearts - Alice Adventures in Wonderland. Physcotic, neurotic, with a habit to cut ones head off. Not your girl next door type.

Natalia Osipova and Thiago Soares

Anastasia and Rasputin - Anastasia. The last act is set in a mental asylum, it’s haunting and leaves you feeling cold.

Steven Mcrae

The Creature - Frankenstein. He likes to kill not quite knowing it’s not the done thing to do.

Edward Watson

Rudolph - Mayerling. I think one of the best roles for a male dancer to perform. A gritty and complex character based on real life events. A role to get your teeth into. I would love to do this role !

Genesia Rosato

Carabosse - The Sleeping Beauty. The wicked fairy who ruins Auroras sweet 16 birthday party !

Gary Avis in 3 different productions

Von Rothbart - Swan Lake. Manipulative cunning and down right nasty.

Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov

Albrecht - Giselle. He’s not a nice guy ! He lied to Giselle he had another woman, didn’t tell her he was a prince, I know he gets pretty upset in act 2 because HE broke her heart, but I don’t buy it.

Nicol Edmonds

King Rat - The Nutcracker. As nasty as it gets from this ballet, personally though I think he’s misunderstood, he was self protecting, no ?!

Sarah Lamb

Raven Girl - Raven Girl. Half Raven half girl, it’s a creepy story and super gothic.

Thank you to Amanda, my favourite goth, for the inspiration for this blog !!! 🖤

More blogs coming your way ! Stay tuned …

The Costume Practice Skirt.

There is a lot to prepare for when rehearsing a role, learning the choreography is only half of it!

You’ve got to build the stamina and work out the partnering, but another element that may not be immediately obvious is the effect that costumes and hats can have on the dynamic of the dancing.

It can hugely alter partnering, lifts and handling and it has a huge effect on how you simply excute steps. Something that was straight forward and seemed effortless in the studio is suddenly totally different when you get a costume on.

Some costumes are heavy which can make turning tricky and jumps feel very different. We do some rehearsals on stage in costume for this but if you have a bigger role, sometimes you need a few more run throughs in the studio before you hit that stage.

Sylvie Guillem

Lauren Cuthbertson with Matthew Ball

Lauren in the iconic skirt from Marguerite and Armand

Tom Whitehead

Rehearsing Drosselmyer in The Nutcracker. Much needed for all the magic tricks in Act 1

Natalia Osipova. Photography - Andrej Uspenski

Natalia wearing full costume for partnering as Mary Vetsera in Mayerling

Tierney Heap

Wearing a heavy skirt in Arthur Pitas The Wind,

Sarah Lamb

Lauren Cuthbertson

Rehearsing Two Pigeons 

Myself with Ryo Hirano. Photography - Rachel Hollings

As Countess Larisch in Mayerling 

Leticia Stock with Marcelino Sambe

Wearing a practice costume for her role as Clara in The Nutcracker.

Alina Cojocaru. Photography - Andrej Uspenski

Sarah Lamb

Rehearsing with her wings for Wayne McGregors ballet Raven Girl. 

Myself with Edward Watson

Rehearsing in a head piece for Raven Girl.

William Bracewell Photography

You may know William Bracewell for his amazing talent on stage ( First Soloist with The Royal Ballet Company ) but there is another string to this mans bow and that’s his talent behind the lens!! We did an impromptu shoot a couple of months back and I wanted to share his work with you ! We did it all in 20 mins, super chilled and carefree, just the way we both like to roll .. 

 His Instagram account - instagram.com/williambracewell?igshid=12psz0bnypsyt

Dressed by Nicol Edmonds and the photographer himself William Bracewell...... 

Ballerinas Respite

A dancers life is very busy. Not only are we performing most evenings but during the day we're preparing for upcoming productions. It's never as simple as preparing a show and then getting it on stage and having a chance to relax during the day (contrary to what people often think...), we are constantly learning new rep and new roles. This means that we’ll have a full day of rehearsing two or three (or four or five!) different ballets throughout the day while trying to fit our normal life into gaps between rehearsals. Imagine those day to day pieces of life admin that you do while at work. The couple of minutes you spend on the phone to the estate agent, the time you slip away from the desk to coordinate dinner with your boyfriend.... now imagine doing that from within a quiet ballet studio - impossible!

Thats why those 15 minute breaks between rehearsals are so precious. You’ve got to move from studio to studio, find a second to book a physio appointment, grab somebody from wardrobe to discuss a costume alteration and find time to organise dinner! It’s still crucial to arrive in the studio ahead of the rehearsal though, arriving flustered is never good mental preparation, 

I have always thought these moments before a rehearsal in the studio are something quite beautiful. I love to see the different way in which a dancer spends these precious quiet minutes.  

It ranges from a quiet moment to oneself to go through repertoire with a colleague or just surfing through insta if you know you’ve got a less stressful rehearsal ahead of you. It’s just a brief moment you have for yourself and in this line of work that is appreciated indeed.

Isabel, Lettie and Chi having a quite moment before putting on their tutus for rehearsal. 

Natalia, checking her emails while still wearing her headpiece for Medusa !  

Lara and Helen stretching out. 

Sarah darning her pointe shoes. 

Mariko killing 2 birds with one stone. 

Lettie and Gem catching up  

Chi sewing her ribbons. 

Hannah grabbing a quick bite. 

Romany prepping her toe tape 

Tara draining her legs  

Mica booking a physio appointment through our Smartabase system. 

Shoutout to my amazing colleagues and to all dancers around the world , you guys rock, never forget it !  

My Feet

My feet. They are absolutely disgusting I know, but always want to share to my followers both sides of the ballet world- not just the perfect insta pic. I have bunions calluses, every toenail is bruised and grown in weird scary directions. But hey, they are my tool and I give them respect.

When I wear an open toe sandal during summer I paint these bad boys a bright colour to mask everything else ! I never moisturise, us dancers like a dry foot! If they are too soft you are prone to blisters around the nails, on the balls of your feet and the worst ... back of the heel ! I once had a really ( a REALLY ) bad blister on the back of my heel during a Swan Lake run. I thought adrenaline would mask the pain.... I was wrong !

My second toe is bigger than my big toe which caused a lot of stressing on the bone when I was a student. My physiotherapist Moira McCormack took me to see an orthotics specialist who designed a toe separator and lengthener to resolve the problem. It worked. I now make them myself along with many other dancers.

Here is a how-to guide ...  

The toe separators last for ages. I only make new ones when I lose my previous,  I rely on them so much. Tara, a friend and dancer with The Royal Ballet, made up a song about me losing my separators.. it’s hilarious and very catchy, we sometimes just break out into the song in the dressing room !! 

I have had a research, and to buy these products the website is  

www.fresco.es  

( this is not an ad, I have not been paid to promote these products, just replying to a lot of people who have asked me if where they can buy these products !) 

Every Dancer Has a Trump Card

Every dancer has a trump card !

Can you turn for days and only stop when you fancy it ? Can you jump so high that a photographer misses your head? Do people drool when they see your insane foot arches ? Or how about a beautiful port de bras that could make a simple exercise into a piece of art? High extensions that makes a person say ‘ouch’ ? Or what about a great actress, who could tell a story with a plie exercise? We all have one, maybe two ... ( Natalia Osipova has all these cards, it’s what makes her a ballet superstar ! ) 

Every dancer has in my opinion ‘their thing’. You just need to find it, learn to love it and work on it even more ! Whenever I teach a masterclass, I like to go round the studio and ask each student what their trump card is and for them to announce it to the studio. It’s not boasting just learning to be confident with your attribute.

My attribute is flexibility. Yes I was born with high extensions, and walked like bambi for many years as a young student. I have been called ‘lucky’ my whole life by my fellow dancers, but it does come with a price and that is strength ! I could throw my leg up but it took me years to build muscle and technique to control that leg in a place I was happy with. The more strength I got the tighter I felt. There’s a trade-off between strength and flexibility and I had to spend as much time stretching as I did in the Pilates room. It took many years to get to a point where I was happy and confident with my adage. But of course, let’s not forget the countless hours spent practising the other parts of ballet, don’t worry I won’t go into that ! That 10,000 hours is no myth....

If you are a dancer what’s your trump card? If you are not a dancer, maybe you work in finance, or you’re a nurse you also have a card. Let’s use those cards, embrace and celebrate them...

A Ballerinas Dressing Room

 When I was a child I loved finding old black and white photographs of ballerinas backstage. In their dressing rooms and going through the routine of preparing for a show. I just found them unbelievably glamorous and I desperately wanted to be like them - powdering their face while wearing a tutu with dressing gowns draped over chairs. Its incredible to think that I now live that life. Its not as glamorous as I imagined but its not far off!

There really are lightbulbs surrounding your mirror. They serve a purpose too, they create just the right kind of uniform glare so that you can recreate stage lighting. Eliminating shadows on the face and allowing you to see what the audience will see. We don’t have costumes draped over chairs but they are hanging up behind us on rails. If you’re getting ready for a big three act ballet you’ll have a couple of rails to hold all of the costumes (Countess Larisch in Mayerling for example) or if its a modern ballet or even an old Balanchine one its often just one single leotard hanging there! Our incredible costume department prepare all of this during the day of the show while we’re upstairs in the studios rehearsing.

Pointe shoes are either hanging up ready to be sorted or if its a big show and I’m a bit more nervous I’ll have chosen my favourite pair in the morning and they’ll be on my place ready to slip on.

At the Royal Opera House, and I think this is the same all over the world, we have a little speaker on our place that we can tune into either the Linbury Theatre or the main stage to hear whats going on. This means that when you’re getting ready for a show you can hear the orchestra warming up, the audience coming into the auditorium and start to really get in the mood. If its a really big show though and I’m nervous then I’ll turn the speaker off - it freaks me out too much!

There is a lot of mental preparation before a show, no matter whether its a big or a small role, us dancers are perfectionists and we are desperate for our performance to be perfect for the audience. This leads to a certain atmosphere on big nights in the dressing room. Often it will be chatty and we’ll all be sailing through the evening without a care in the world then occasionally on the premier of a big show you can hear a pin drop - there’s a hushed atmosphere as everybody gets into their own individual mindful space. The women in my changing room know when I’ve got a role that I’m slightly nervous about, I manically tidy my area and do long-delayed admin.

Regardless of what show I’ve danced the end of the night is always the same, an explosion of hair pins, toe tape and make-up!

ANNA PAVALOVA

MADELEINE PARKER, 1929 

MARGARET SEYMOUR  

RUDOLPH NUREYEV  

MOIRA SHEARER  

AUDREY HEPBURN  

JOSETTE AMIEL

VALERIE LAWSON  

VANESSA FENTON taken by Mary McCartney. This photograph was actually taken not that long ago but I had to show it off. Me and Nessy used to share a changing room, we always had such a laugh, she was unbelievably messy, her nickname was Messy Nessy. But I also loved sitting next to her because she was so different to me, somehow it relaxed me. 

What I Eat In A Day

 So, what does Olivia eat?

So, after the success of my recent blog ‘Should You Be Eating That Cake Olivia?’

www.ballet.style/journal/2019/1/17/q35wwom55uuy0xdpfhcqp6ly6f70ee

I wanted to give you a deeper insight into my diet. It’s not the perfect diet, but it’s a happy diet. I have so many stresses in my life, I don’t want to stress about what kind of honey I should be adding to my porridge according to the latest fad.

I discovered when I was 19 that I was dairy intolerant. I had no idea why I kept reacting so badly when I ate yoghurts or drank a latte. Imagine my surprise when my mum nonchalantly commented, ‘Oh yes I remember when you were a baby we had to take you off milk for a year as you kept on vomiting!’. No more yoghurts for me.....

I’m good with sheep and goats milk which is a relief because I need something to go on top of lasagne and pecorino works just fine. It also means I don’t miss out on pizza as long as I insist on buffalo mozzarella. I would hate it if I couldn’t have any cheese at all.

One thing I realise about my diet that could be different to other people my age is that I just don’t eat microwave meals (don’t even own a microwave!) and I never use sauces out of jars - they all taste the same, I think it’s the gum, stabilisers and preservatives that they use. There’s a generic ‘canned’ taste about them. I always cook my own pasta sauces and curries. I guess I’d say that I’m not a ‘natural’ cook but over the past few years I’ve made a real effort and I’ve learnt some reliable meals that I can turn to at a moment’s notice.

I always say to people that I eat healthily and what I mean by that is that I have a balanced diet. I eat wholewheat pasta and homemade sauce, brown rice and my partner bakes our nutty, wholewheat bread twice a week. Its got quite a reputation that bread - my family can’t believe we can eat it every day, its so filling!

The other side of that balance is that I just don’t really deny myself anything if I want it. After a show I might celebrate and go out for a steak frites and a glass of Champers. Before the show, not so glamorous, you’ll see me eating McCoys salt and vinegar crisps With a pint of squash ! Ryo Hirano is always laughing at me, he says they only stock McCoys because I eat them. Its usually after I’ve had a really hard day so I think actually that its salt replacement that my body is craving.

I’ve noticed that I’ve cut down on the amount of meat (particularly red meat) that I eat and I guess thats been a conscious decision, I just don’t think its healthy to have it as much as I used to. My dad was a butcher at Sainsburys while I was growing up so our meals were always centred around good quality meat, thats definitely been a change for me, I cant believe how much meat I used to eat!

I love fish but only really shellfish and white fish, I just don’t like the taste of oily fish like mackerel or sardines. I know they’re so good for you but they’re just not for me.

To give you an idea of a typical few days this is what I might eat:

Breakfast ....

Porridge

When I make my porridge it’s cooked with oat milk on the hob. Sometimes if I’m feeling fruity I’ll add some golden syrup, nope sadly not honey or seeds like you should, but golden syrup because I like it !

Toast

Two massive slabs of toast with marmite or jam. This bread is hardcore, made with wholewheat and seeds. 

Lunch....

Pasta Bolognese - Chilli Con Carne etc

If I haven’t had a show the night before and am organised, I’ll bring in meals from home. I use wholewheat pasta/rice, and of course always using my fresh sauces from home.

Out and about in Covent Garden

I’ll nip out and get a tuna baguette from Prèt A Manger or go to Benitos Hat and have a Mexican feast. Quick and easy.

Canteen at Royal Opera House

I love the canteen at work, (so much so, that I’m the ‘canteen representative’ for the Royal Ballet Company). I’ll grab a sandwich or get something hot from the counter, always a good selection to choose from. 

Dinner ....

When I’m performing in the evening I’ll eat  in the canteen again, but if I’m at home then these dishes are my ‘go to’. I like to go out for dinner but can get quite pricy, so opt for these Liv classics.

Chicken Katsu Curry - Fish with breadcrumbs potatoes

Love a breaded fish drenched in vinegar with potato wedges and peas.

Pasta

Love pasta. It’s so quick and easy after a long day at work.

Mexican enchiladas

Piled with lots of fresh salsa and guacamole with nachos on the side !

I love this simple meal

At my favourite restaurant in Florence. Pasta and red wine. Heaven. 

‘Should you be eating that cake Olivia ?’

‘Ahh so I suppose you don’t eat much?’

‘Do you live on salad?’

’You must be so hungry?’

‘Do the male dancers hide the food from you?’

‘Have you been on a life long diet?’

‘Should you be eating that cake?’

Socialising as a ballerina can sometimes be tedious. Once I’ve mentioned that I’m a ballerina (and believe me, I try to stay away from the subject!) I’m constantly asked one or more of these questions. It’s almost as if people are desperate to confirm their impressions of a ballerina and once they get past the introductions its just a matter of waiting a polite amount of time before they feel they can ask.

Lets be honest, there is a certain aesthetic that is desirable for ballet. I’m incredibly lucky, I had parents who raised me in such a way that I would never have felt that I needed to diet because I wanted to be a ballerina. Like most young women there was a stage in my life when my hormones were going crazy and I was a bit plumper, but I never considered any of the fad diets of the day. Its because of this I think that I’ve got such a healthy metabolic rate, I never starved my body and in return it doesn’t stockpile bulk when I eat. 

I’ve come up with what I think is a possible contributing factor. During the 50’s and 60’s women were a similar shape to other women of the day but something changed in the next few decades. I think that George Balanchine, (choreographer and artistic Director for more than 35 years with New York City Ballet)  has a lot to answer for. From what I hear he was an over-bearing and emotionally manipulative character. This resulted in countless women spending years trying to live up to his idea of a perfect ballerina. In my opinion this gradually shifted the shape of ballerinas of that time in the US and of course what started in the US at that time eventually reached Europe and Asia.

Back to the questions in hand. Do you like to ask them? Does it satisfy some voyeuristic fascination? I only ask because when I answer and explain that I eat like a horse to be able to dance the hours I do, what I see in some eyes is not satisfaction but maybe a slight disappointment? Maybe the image they really want is of a dancer sitting at home, sewing her pointe shoes, watching a ballet film and eating celery sticks. What’s funny is that I do do these things ! I need to sew my pointe shoes, I have to watch ballet after work to learn up-coming repertoire in the season and I do eat celery! However alongside this, I also eat curry by the bucket, love a glass of Malbec and when I eat celery it comes with a mountain of hummus balanced on top! I also make clear when people ask, the sheer amount of dancing that we do. In terms of hours per day I can’t imagine how many calories we burn, we don’t sit around plaiting each other’s hair in the studio, our work is unbelievably strenuous and the days are very long ! I joke about what will happen when I stop dancing. Probably then I’ll have to rethink my portion sizes ! 

In fact, I think I’m like every other young woman I know including my ballet friends - I’ve known literally hundreds of ballerinas from my time as a student and now as a professional and while we can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors I can only think of a handful who I was sure had some kind of problem with food. Were their problems anything to do with ballet? Or were they the usual problems with self-image that all young women seem to struggle with and they just happened to be ballerinas?

Whats also interesting is that there are men and women in the ballet world and the aesthetic requirement for both genders is the same, but its only women who are asked those questions. I cant help feeling that there’s a touch of misogyny at play.... 

I do receive a lot of questions from young students about my diet and when I teach at summer schools or masterclasses I always emphasis the importance of a happy relationship with food. Our body’s are our instruments and unlike a violinist who can probably change their violin during their career, a dancer can’t. You gotta learn to love your body and respect it, eventually, it could pay off your mortgage ! 

One time, while cycling home after a show of ‘La Fille Mal Garde’, I hit a pot hole on the road and flew over my handlebars landing on my chin with full body weight ! I had a huge gash so deep you could see my chin bone. A couple who saw the accident called an ambulance and I was taken to a&e, I was absolutely fine considering the impact and just got stitched up. The reason I’m telling you this is that I also had an X-ray and the medics couldn’t believe I didn’t break a bone, not even a fracture. I felt really proud ! I think that my healthy diet had a part to play in this outcome. No frail delicate ballerina there, 

So if it’s ok, could you stop asking a ballerina about her diet please ? Maybe talk about her favourite ballet or what pointe shoe brand she wears, there are so many interesting aspects to a ballerinas life, dive in ! Your response will be warmer, trust me !

To all my dancer buddies out there, you’re welcome!

Now you know that I do eat cake, the men don’t hide food from me, I don’t just eat salad and I’m not hungry, we can take a look what I do actually eat!

In next weeks blog I’ll show you inside my fridge and meals I like to cook ! 

  

Best Ballet Moments of 2018 by BalletStyle

 

A.

Alina Cojocaru

Alina won the the National Dance Critic Award this year for outstanding female performance (classical) for her performance in Akram Khan’s Giselle with the English National Ballet. Alina is a very special artist and was particularly sublime in this role  

alinacojocaru.com

B.

The Ballet Bag 

Launched this year with huge success my ballet bag also comes in a rucksack, they tick all the boxes for the ideal dance bag ! Designed by me! 

To purchase the ‘it bag‘ of 2018 www.ballet.style/pointe-shoes/ballet-style-ballet-bag

C.  

Collections by Claudia

Claudia (an Ex Royal Ballet dancer) has launched an amazing range of leotards that sit alongside her huge success with ‘Claudia Dean Coaching’. The leotards come in beautiful colours and are super soft and comfortable.. bonus! Claudia Dean has nailed it with this collection, you go gurl ! 

 collectionsbyclaudia.com

D.

Dance Magazine 

The Wonderful World of Dance  

A great magazine, it gives you the latest news from the dance world. It has loads of pictures ( which I love ). This recent cover starring Sergi Polunin is pretty incredible.  

 www.thewonderfulworldofdance.com

E. 

Edward Watson

This year Ed celebrated 30 years with The Royal Ballet. He launched an incredible limited photographic portfolio with Rick Guest and Olivia Pomp. Dancing with Ed on stage is very special, his energy is infectious and his career keeps going from strength to strength.

 www.rickguest.gallery/products

F. Short Film

Gender Fluid

I directed my first short movie this year. with music by Accademia Bizantina and choreography by Jonathan Watkins. I was nervous to put myself out there in a different light but as you know... I love a challenge ! I was super proud with the outcome. 

G. 

Gaynor Minden

As most people know my pointe shoes are specially made by Gaynor Minden and I’m very proud to be a GM Artist for a fourth year running. I gave the GM Scholarship Award to my ( old school teacher ) Nicola Bowden’s student Olivia Apadoo. Wishing her all the success for the future. Congratulations!

Photography- Andrej Uspenski

H.

Haemorrhoid Cream

This wonderous cream, has, ( in my opinion)  put shows on ! It helps numb sore toes and is a ‘must have’  if you’ve had a long day of rehearsals and got a show in the evening. A ballet hack that is very popular among ballerinas. 

To see the full hacking system !  www.ballet.style/journal

I.

Best Instagram Account

Biscuit Ballerina 

Shelby Williams who is a professional ballerina with The Royal Ballet Of Flanders, has a hilarious account, Biscuit Ballerina on Instagram. Showcasing the ‘bad ballet’ (even though she is an incredible dancer) with a whole array of photos and funny clips. It makes ballet a little lighthearted. Her videos are particularly on pointe.. well .. on biscuits. 

 instagram.com/biscuitballerina

J.

Jetè

Because everyone loves a picture of a grande  jetè... but to do such a beautiful jetè, with a huge king rat heat piece on, is something else. Bravo Nicol Edmonds !!! 

k.

Kiehls 

Discovered Kiehl’s facial cream this winter ! Keeps dry winter skin at bay ! 

www.kiehls.com 

L.

Frankie Hayward’s collaboration with Lululemon  

Frankie Hayward’s collection for Lululemon, was launched this autumn. Some absolutely lovely pieces in muted tones, and the material in particular is luxurious and soft. Frankie’s pictures from the range are also very beautiful ! 

 www.lululemon.co.uk

M.

Best Meme  

Another great instagram account is Ballet Moods. I literally laugh out loud when they pop up on my timeline. A meme every dancer can relate to.

 instagram.com/balletmoods

N.

Nisian

An amazing ballet photographer, I was very lucky to work with him this year. Other projects are in the pipe-line for another bigger collaboration... watch this space !  

O.  

Odette /Odile 

To all the Swan Queens out there who do Odette/Odile from the ballet giant Swan Lake ... massive respect to them all . An unbelievably hard role technically and emotionally.

Beckanne Sisk from Ballet West as Odette.  

P.  

Principal Dancer

Matthew Ball

What an amazing year it has been for Matt Ball. He’s had so many principal debuts, Albrecht, Prince Siegfried, Crown Prince Rudolph to name a few. Guested in Mathew Bournes male ‘Swan Lake’ and was promoted to principle with The Royal Ballet. He’s an unbelievable hard worker and I wish him every success.

Q.

Ballet Queen

Misty Copeland

 This lady is superstar and I thank her for making ballet mainstream. She starred in the recent blockbuster movie The Nutcracker And The 4 Realms. To be honest I didn’t rate the movie. The only moment I liked was the ‘ballet section’, with it’s choreography and of course Misty dancing beautifully. 

Gracing the cover of Elle Magazine. 

R.

Royal Opera House  

Its taken three years and a fair bit of money but the Royal Opera House has opened up its doors for a brand new front of house design! They have designed it to include daytime cafe, open spaces for free events and transformed its secondary studio, the Linbury, into a new world-class theatre. 

S.

The Royal Ballet’s new -

Swan Lake  

Liam Scarlett choreographed a brand new production of Swan Lake for The Royal Ballet and what a triumph it was ! We also got to do more shows of it in Madrid, Spain. 

The swans...... 

T. 

Tutu

 Because everyone loves a tutu ! 

U.

‘Underneath The Lake’

My behind the curtains blog on the what it takes to put a new production of Swan Lake on stage proved massively popular.

If you didn’t catch it 

www.ballet.style/journal/2018/5/24/v9v6k769d9lk5h0gdd8afqrdw5u4gu

Melzie, Nats, Anna and Tierney before a show. 

V.

Vegan

In the U.K the number of vegans has increased by 700% in the last 2 years, it’s proven massively popular! Tierney a dancer with The Royal Ballet lives a plant based lifestyle. Check out her blog 

 plantbasedballerina.com

W. 

World Ballet Day  

A whole day spreading the love of ballet around the world !!!  Almost as good as Christmas Day ... ( that’s not true, I love Christmas ! ) 

Sarah and Steven rehearsing Mayerling for World Ballet Day.

Photography - Andrej Uspenski

X. 

Xander Parish

Principal dancer with Mariinsky Theatre Company, Xander is an exceptional dancer and his career keeps on blossoming.

To catch my interview with him ..

 www.ballet.style/journal/2018/3/31/ballet-style-meets-xander-parish

Y.

Yugen

A new one act ballet created this year on The Royal Ballet, choreographed by Wayne McGregor. It was part of triple bill, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, set to the Chichester Psalms. Designed by Edmund de Waal. It was sublime and I felt incredibly privileged to be involved! I really do hope it comes back in the repertoire soon.

The cast of Yugen with choreographer Wayne McGregor 

Z.

Zara

Still on top as one of my favourite shops for street style !

 m.zara.com

These boots are from Zara and were only £60 !!  

Thank you for following my website I hope you have enjoyed the ballet style year. 

Wishing  you a Merry Christmas guys and a happy new year ! 💋

6 Tips To Look Like A Ballerina

Want to look like a ballerina but want to miss out on the actual physicality of it ( don’t blame you ! ). Here are my top 6 tips to look like a ballerina without pointing a toe !

My Ballerina Tested Tips....

1.

Pastels

You gotta wear pastels ! The colours need to be light and soft but don’t necessarily have to be pink. You can use soft blues, violets or any powdery hues. Mixing these colours together makes a really pretty palette and you can really go to town with different combinations.

Studio Style...

 Mixing a violet leotard with a nude skirt and baby-pink calf warmer.  

LEOTARD - q-ballet.net

Street Style... 

Left - Creams with powder blue and pink highlights  

SUIT -  shop.mango.com/

Right - Yellows and pinks ! I love pink right now .. super bunhead !  

JUMPER - www.marksandspencer.com

2.

Material

Wearing the right material is important. Chiffon, tulle, silk anything light and airy that moves when you walk. These materials are used a lot in Ballet, because it follows our movement and glides over our body. It creates that ethereal other- worldly look  

Studio Style...

This skirt really flows beautifully and I lke wearing it with bare legs so I can feel it on my skin.

SKIRT - q-ballet.net

LEOTARD   - www.yumiko.com

 Your style..

Lots of movement and layers in all 3 outfits.  

This chiffon dress glides with me and I love the feel on my skin. I play it down with my Puma Hi Tops.  

DRESS -  m.zara.com

3.

Hair

Hair tied up high in a bun is the ultimate ballet look. But you don’t have to go the whole hog. Slicked back in a high pony or in a low centre parting creates that swan lake vibe, also maybe throw in a headscarf for extra detail.  Audrey Hepburn has this style down ! 

Studio Style...

The beautiful Audrey Hepburn.  

Street Style... 

Head scarf tied up in a knot.  

4.

Jewellery

Fine delicate jewellery is a hit in the studio for ballerinas. Necklaces that are not too heavy on our décolletage ( for pirouettes !) and earrings that don’t weigh the earlobes down, give that fine detail to an outfit. Maybe a bit of sparkle if you are feeling uber feminine !

Studio Style... 

Street Style... 

Pulling that uber glamorous look  but with fine understated jewellery. Thin rings and an ear cuff that can just be seen. 

5.

Waist Clinchers

It’s associated with ballet students, who wear them to find their centre. It has that Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev style who both rocked the belt in the studio. I have quite an athletic body so I like to accentuate my waist with a belt.

Studio Style... 

Margot and Rudi showing us how a waist clincher can really make an outfit ! 

My belt here is elastic that I tied. I sometimes use ballet ribbon too. Very cheap alternative! 

Street Style... 

Both outfits looking sharper and more polished with a belt.  

6.

Posture

A lot of people assume that ballerina’s are very confident because a good posture can convey this. Shoulders back, chin in, pelvis neutral and you are in to looking like a ballerina instantly. However don’t walk with your feet turned out .. that’s just a bit too far !

Studio Style... 

Antoinette  and Anthony showing beautiful poise. 

Street Style... 

I know I don’t have the ‘perfect’ beach body but good posture carries you a long way. Look proud .. feel proud, that’s what I say !

 POSTURE BRACE - posturebrace.co.uk

Thank you for reading and maybe it’s inspired you to get your ballet grove on ! 💕

Good toes, naughty toes, good toes  ......... 

Huel Craze

There’s a craze with us dancers at the Royal Opera House ... Huel. It’s a meal replacement Shake containing a blend of Oats, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Brown Rice, vitamins, and loads of other healthy ingredients. I find other shakes quite difficult to stomach but this is quite tasty, it’s also vegan and although I’m not vegan I am intolerant to dairy and find they use mostly whey protein in other protein shake brands. 

Caught Billy at the elevator with the full Huel kit on ! 

 I tried it two years ago and haven’t looked back since. I sometimes replace my lunch with it, but usually swig it during the day for extra energy and calories. If I’m doing a big show then it’s ALWAYS by my side. It just keeps the energy levels up so you can feel the same in Act 3 as you felt in Act 1..... well almost !!  It’s very digestible too so you don’t get that heavy, lethargic feeling.

Teo ripping his tee for the iconic male dancer look.  

Tools on my dressing room table.  

Nicols chill position! 

It doesn’t look like it’s just me who’s keen, I‘ve spotted dancers also getting there fuel from Huel, and wearing the brand as it’s a pretty cool label to be associated with !  

... FYI Huel did not pay me for this feature !!  

Aiden wearing the Tee with an Apple Watch. 

Pointing my foot towards Huel.. this wasn’t intentional ! 

 

If ya wanna join our gang here is a link  

huel.com

Ballet Studio Style

A weeks worth of ballet looks displayed ! 

 Monday ..

Tutu to start the week off.

A nice peachy pink knit to keep me warm on this cold day. Game face is on! 

 Knit - m.hm.com 

 Tuesday ..

Finding my autumnal colours here with browns, burnt oranges and yellows. Love how this skirt flows.  

Leotard - www.maldire.com

Skirt  - q-ballet.net

 Wednesday ..

Dark and interesting ?!? Long skirt needed for rehearsals and a belt to clinch the waist in. 

 Leotard - www.basilicadancewear.com/

 Belt -  designed by me ! 

Thursday ..

A more relaxed vibe with fringe swept back in a headband. This top was my mums, she was going to throw it out I was like ‘ No ... this is perfect for the studio, please I’ll take it !’ ... I did ! 

Top -  www.marksandspencer.com

Headband -  Japan

 Friday ..

Powdered, soft colours for today . My body feels tight and tired, hiding it all with a smile and lots of ballerina style ! 

Leotard -  q-ballet.net

Skirt -  lespetitesjupesdepatricia.bigcartel.com

 Saturday ..

 Outfit needed just for ballet class before show. So a simple look to get me warm fast is needed, however can still go fun with colours ! 

 Body Warmer - uk.blochworld.com

Leotard -  https://q-ballet.net/

Sunday  ..

On 0.0000001 acres of land enjoying an Earl Grey. It may be 12 degrees but the legs are out ! Time to rest those tootsies. 

Hope you enjoyed my weeks worth of looks, more blogs coming soon !  💕