Ballet Hacks part 2

Discover more tricks to the ballet trade ...

Rosin

We use powdered rosin on the tips and heels of our shoes to reduce slippage while we dance, as everyone knows. However you might not know that we also use it on our body for partnering! For example I put it on my waist and derrière for Arabian Dance so it helps the men to grip and not slip off the costume or my skin !

Red Spray  

We call this ‘the red spay’ ! It’s an adhesive spray to stick tape and dressings on, however us dancers use this to stick our costumes to our skin !! Especially around the derrière area so we don’t get wedgies! Quite an important tool especially for those modern ballets ! 

Sometimes, for extra caution we sew the costume to our tights !

Here in New York before a show of ‘Infra’.  

Dental Floss  

If you are at home and have run out of thread make like a ballerina and use dental floss! Not all dancers use floss but those who do swear by it to sew ribbons on their pointe shoes. It’s very strong and secure, and makes you feel confident that those ribbons won’t come loose ! 

Nail Polish 

We are constantly putting our ballet tights on and off throughout the day which can lead to some serious laddering. But we have a trick for that... nail polish ! Put a dollop on and it stops the ladder extending ! 

Hello, World!

Hello, World!

Hairspray   

The end of our ribbons are called pigs ears and one of the first things we learn as a little girl is to tuck them in. They sometimes come loose during a show. The way we stop this is to hairspray the knot to make it tacky and sometimes for extra caution, we sew ! 

Massage Device

We don’t use any fancy massage tools just two tennis balls inside a tubi grip does the trick. It gets those tight muscles loosened, it’s light in your ballet bag and very cheap ! 

And one for the men!

 Their shoes come with two elastics already sewn onto the shoe by one end, the theory is that they will sew the other end onto their shoes in their chosen position. No chance! 

Instead of sewing the elastics onto their shoes they tie a knot and slip it over their feet!  

Ballet hacks part 1

In any profession there are always hacks you learn along the way - here are ours ...

Haemorrhoid cream

Not for haemmorrhoids but for numbing  toenails ! A lot of people assume we get a lot of pain through blisters but actually it’s the toenails that can make us wince ! This cream has saved a lot of shows. There was a run of Swan lake Shows and I don’t know how I could have done them without this cream !

Darning

We darn the end of our pointe shoes as it gives more of a platform when you are on the toes. It also makes the shoe ‘last’ a bit longer as the toes after time can go very soft.

Soft cream cheese

A lot of dancers, in particular, in Germany swear by this soft cream cheese for bunion pain ! They pile a load on their bunions before they go to bed and wrap it with cling film. The next day all swelling disappears!

We cut our ballet tights

We cut our tights for all kinds of requirements. The heel is cut so I have extra grip for my pointe shoes. The toe area is cut for two different reasons. Firstly I can plaster my toes with ease ( and use that haemorrhoid cream ) without taking the tights all the way off. Secondly it makes me feel the pointe shoe more with less sliding around.

Floor polish - Shellac 

Pointe shoes don’t last long. They are made of papier mache and get soft over time. To preserve the lives of our shoes (or to delay the inevitable sewing!) we swill the shoe inside with shellac and let it dry. A couple of layers of this brittle liquid means that the shoes will last a show or if we are lucky, an extra few days!  

Pancake

To hide from the audience that we actually do cut our tights we apply pancake ( make -up ) to fill in the hole and make it look smooth. Simple.  

Look out for next weeks- Ballet Hacks part 2   

Only on Ballet.Style !  

Ballet Style’s ABC of 2017!

A. 

Australia

A short but very exciting tour, The Royal Ballet performed two great productions - The Winters Tale and Woolf Works in Brisbane, Australia.

Steven at the QPAC party, myself and Alexander posing for a photoshoot.  

B.  

Bikram Ballet

 June was an incredibly hot month this year in London and dancers were feeling it ! The pins were out for class which led to some great style in the studio. 

Sian in a high bun and flip flops, Leticia and Chi surviving the heat   

C.  

Charlotte Tilbury

  Always on the lookout for a magic beauty fixer and this year I discovered Charlotte Tilburys ‘Magic foundation’, which really evens out my skin tone ! I told anyone who listened - even ‘Grazia’ magazine heard me!

D.  

Darcey Bussell 

 Darcey was one of the first ballerinas I saw live on stage and she made a huge impression on me. She has worked a lot with the Royal this season and its lovely to have her around again - I catch myself staring at her in the lift! Although she doesn’t dance anymore she hasn’t lost her grace and presence, I feel like she could step straight back onto stage. 

Darcey in Song of the Earth

 E.  

Eric Underwood  

Eric sadly left The Royal Ballet Company last season. He had a wonderful energy and charisma on stage that will be sadly missed. I wish him all the best for the next move in his career. 

Eric showing those incredible pins.  

F.  

Fans

 A dancer’s life can be very tough, from the long hours to the pain you put your body through, a fan really shows you that it’s all worth it. I sometimes wonder where I’d be without the (your) support, the cards and gifts at stage door, the messages on social media, and general love. 

Here’s a message to you guys -

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, your support pushes me to carry on with this website, it’s so appreciated, much love, Olivia xxxxx 

Here with a big fan at side stage, my beautiful niece and goddaughter Mary Saville. 

G.  

Gyrotonics

   My dream machine this year ! Keeps you lengthened while toning your muscles.  

Laura working on the machine  

H.  

Huel

 Always have a Huel in my ballet bag. A great source of carbs, protein and vits when a sandwich isn’t enough !   

To find out more..

huel.com

I.  

Injuries

 I have been suffering with acute achilles tendonitis for over 3 years and have always just coped and danced with pretty awful pain. This year I decided to take the time to give rehab and treatment a chance and tackle the problem. It took 4 months which has been the longest I have ever been off in my whole career. I’m not patient so it was tough and frustrating. However it was ultimately rewarding as the pain subsided and the injury seems to have healed. I am so glad I took the advice of physiotherapists and experts.  

J.  

Jewels

 These Costumes are from the ballet Diamonds in George Balanchine’s ‘Jewels’, absolutely beautiful. 

Hannah, Annette and Demelza respectively.  

K.  

Kenneth MacMillan  

Kenneth MacMillan is one of the greatest choreographers to have ever lived. His powerfully dramatic ballets,(Requiem, Mayerling, Manon to name a few) exemplify the choreographer's ingenuity of dramatic storytelling. Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet and The Royal Ballet, came together this year to commemorative the 25th anniversary of his death. I adore his work and alway feel very privileged to dance in his Ballets. 

 L.

Les Neriedes

My new favourite jewellery shop this year ! 

 www.lesnereides.com

Their pas de deux range

 M.  

Maldire

 They’ve got some gorgeous leotards in their range! 

 www.maldire.com

N. 

The Nutcracker

 A classic ballet that is shown by most ballet companies around Christmas time. Us dancers slightly roll our eyes when we know we’ve got 30 shows of a glitter fest to do but there’s a part of us that loves it as it’s such a happy ballet and nothing gets you more in the mood for Christmas than a show of The Nutcracker!  

Charlotte and Ashley relaxing between diverts in Act two.  

O. 

Origins

My skin saviour for after shows!  m.origins.co.uk/

 P.  

Plaits

 They are so pretty and have been both popular in the studio and catwalk alike.  

Mica’s tussled plaits in class. 

Q. 

Quatre-quarts ballet store

  A great ballet store based in Japan that has been so supportive this year. Check out their great range of ballet t- shirts and leotards ! 

 q-ballet.net

R. 

Rick Guest  

 A fantastic photographer and friend, Rick Guest has a couple of great books. Perfect for any ballet fan on their coffee table ! Go to the link to purchase ..

 rg-books.com

Ed Watson on the cover.  

Louis McMiller dancer with company - Studio Wayne McGregor 

S. 

Slippers 

These slippers are my go to luxury item in between rehearsals. 

www.aandreassen.com 

T.   

Trendsetter- Jeremy Scott for Moschino 

His collection this year was hugely ballet inspired, I loved the dirty punk edge he brought to the style. 

U. 

Untouchables  

 These costumes from ballet - Untouchables are super cool. Designed by Holly Waddington. 

Leo rocking this look

V.  

Vadream

 Vadim Muntagirov’s nickname ... the name says it all !

Photographer - Daria Klimentova

 X.  

X marks the spot- accupunture ( See what I did there ?!?! )  

Accupuncture my best friend for the last couple of months !

Ryo going mental with the needles and a good helping of recovery boots for good measure.  

W.

Weleda skin food  

 If it’s good enough for Victoria Beckham, it’s good enough for me ! 

  Y. 

Yellow

 My favourite colour this year. Makes me feel happy and positive.  

Z. 

Zenaida Yanowsky

 The legend that is Zen. It was her last season this year as a principal with The Royal Ballet Company. The kindest and most stylish ballerina out there, will be sadly missed. 

 I hope you enjoyed my round-up of 2017. Please comment with any wishes for 2018, I’m all ears!  

 Livs x 

Michael Jackson Style

Michael Jackson is the reason I dance today ! He was the artist who opened my eyes to ‘a performance’, I watched his videos on repeat in front of the tv and learnt all the steps to his dance routines, (‘Beat It’ was my favourite) ! Even today when I watch him dance, I still can’t get over his technique, he is far better than the professional dancers behind him. Every movement is crisp, clean and very musical. But what I’ve discovered recently is that he’s my fashion idol too ! He has a masculine look paired with such flamboyance, it’s super fun and very confident. His clumpy shoes with a load of sparkle and then a simple white tee. MJ at his best. 

Waist down a huge metallic, glitter explosion. Super fun. 

Trousers - m.topshop.com

The Socks - m.asos.com

Shoes -  www.selfridges.com

The classic white vest. Simple.  

Vest - m.topshop.com

Tights - dancer.com

Candy stick trousers are flamboyant, adding a white shirt tones it down. 

Trousers - Vintage  

Shirt -  m.zara.com

Coat -  m.asos.com

I like wearing my shirt for ballet, I sometimes tie it around the waist or wear it like a jacket. 

White Shirt -  www.marksandspencer.com

Black Skirt -  dancer.com

Gold and white. A classy combo, in an artistic kind of way.

Trousers - www.selfridges.com

Shirt - m.zara.com

Twinkle Toes 

Those Socks - m.asos.com

Shoes -  www.mulberry.com

I’ve always raved about how much I love my costume from Orlando, Woolf Works !!! Now I know why !  

Calm Before The Snow Storm

It’s that time of the year again .. The Nutcracker ! It’s a mammoth of a production with so many involved. We rehearse individually our dance roles ( Arabian, for example ) 3 weeks prior to the ‘Full Call’. A full call is a run of the whole ballet with all dancers involved. Because there are so many shows, we have many different roles to dance. For example one night I will do Lead Flower the next, Arabian... 

I wanted to give you an insight into what happens around the sides of the studio ! If we are not in the scene we very rarely just sit and watch, we are constantly multitasking. The ballet master for this production is Christopher Carr, and we are intently listening to his corrections, counts and general humour. There are often differences of opinion (is the arm up on 7 or 6 for example) Christopher always has the final say. 

Warning ⚠️  

There are spoilers ! 

Annette and Fumi sewing pointe shoes. We go through so many shoes it’s a great chance to catch up on the sewing !

Frankie taking time to go through her pointe shoes to see which ones are best for her rehearsal ( soft, hard etc ) 

You will see Sian our Ballet Mistress, giving corrections, teaching steps to new members or students, while the rehearsal is still going to let the full call run smoothly without too many stops. 

There are a huge amount of props and sets involved with The Nutcracker. Sarah, one of our Heads of Stage management, is here to make sure every prop is in the right place at the right time. You would be suprised how many props are used for just two acts, from a Drosselmeyer party trick to a simple tea light on a table. 

For full calls and most rehearsals, we have our wonderful conductors keep an eye on tempo and cues.. VITAL for any successful production ! Here is Paul Murphy & Barry Wordsworth. 

Lukas playing Sudoko and drinking ginger beer while the ladies from Mirlitons are on. 

Romany and Joshua having a quick bite outside the studio, it can be quite hot and chaotic in the studio. Nice to break away for 5. 

Gemma watching intently while releasing her calves with a roller. 

Tom sitting on a roller.  

Lara in her own little world, watching 3 different roles at the same time while marking the steps herself !

Liberty, a student from White Lodge, writing down notes after her run of party scene ! 

David working out his doll box before rehearsing !  

Tristan taking time to stretch before his dance section.  

Ollie talking with Paul.

Ollie has worked with the Royal Ballet Company for over 52 years !! He is an extra in this ballet and has done this ballet since it opened 30 years ago ( I asked him ) when I see Ollie with his iconic t shirts, I know it’s Christmas!!! A legend. 

Gary with his Drosselmeyer cloak on, resting before his next entrance. 

Students from White Lodge, watching ( very cutely I might add ) Act 1. Here is Layla with her little shoe off ! 

There are a couple of shoe changes for the ladies in Act 1. Here is Natalie swapping from character to pointe shoes. 

Audition Style

Auditioning for a job is incredibly stressful, it's one of the most important moments in your career as a dancer and presenting yourself properly is crucial.

As I know that it's that time of the year when auditions are advertised I have listed the 5 most important things to consider for your audition bag. 

1. 

 If this is your first audition then don't dress like a student! What you'll often hear is "I need somebody with a bit more experience". Give the impression of experience by getting out of that uniform.

Emma Jane 

In a Classic look but the lacy top makes her style personal.

2. 

No matter how good you are, if you're in a room full of people all competing for the same job then you need to stand out. Give the director the opportunity to say "the girl in the turquoise leotard". They don't know your name - give them something to focus on.

Bright Turquoise Leotard.  

Solomon would be called 'the guy in the green shorts'! 

3. 

Look presentable. Keep hair tidy and for the ladies keep make up simple. 

Lettie- Hair tied back loosely to show her beautiful face.  

Matt- Using a bandana to keep his hair off his face  

4.

Don't hide behind loose clothing or garb. It actually does the opposite and draws attention to want you want to hide, like feet for an example!  

Me- How not to dress- leg warmers, a top around my waist. The look is messy. 

Gina- How to dress ! It's a clean look, it shows her bod and she is wearing a bright pink leotard to stand out  

5. 

Wear your favourite outfit  because that means comfort and confidence. 

I feel very confident in a long sleeved leotard. I don't know why but I do!   

6.

Just another little tip ...

Never do the exercise unless you're sure of it. Go in the second group!  

My story. 

 When I auditioned, before receiving my contract at The Royal Ballet I wore this outfit for every audition I went to, from Hong Kong to Boston.

It was a cap-sleeved chocolate brown unitard. Unusual and exposing, I knew there wouldn't be many others wearing something similar. I didn't wear anything else, no leg warmers, no skirt and no tracksuit top. Of course I was nervous but I knew it would make me stand out and seem confident, even if I wasn't. My friends still mention the days I traveled around Europe to auditions with the brown unitard and detergent, it worked - I got the job and still have the unitard for nostalgia purposes!

And Good luck from Ballet.Style xx 

Untouchables- Costumes Up Close

Hofesh Shechter’s ballet ‘Untouchables’ comes with some great costumes. I didn’t get a chance to highlight these costumes when it first debuted at the Royal Opera House in 2015, so grabbed the chance this time. When I watch this ballet I get a feeling of anguish, rebellion and oppression, I think these costumes perfectly highlight the zeitgeist - a feeling of separation and isolation.... also they are just super cool, love the use of the belts !! Costumes designed by Holly Waddington. 

KRISTEN

ASHLEY

LEO

BEATRIZ

DAVID

MICA

JOSHUA & JAMES

ISABELLA

TIERNEY  

FRANCISCO  

Suit obsession

My office may be on stage but it doesn’t stop me from wearing a suit ! I love and adore suits, I really do feel stong and feminine.  They have become ‘on trend’ recently which means they have hit the high street in a big way, there are a lot of colours and designs to select from. My mission is to find a blue velvet trouser suit for this winter .. wish me luck ! 

Here are my Top 4 .. 

The Suit - m.zara.com

Shoes -  mulberry.com

The Suit -  m.hm.com

Top -  www.urbanoutfitters.com

The Suit -  shop.mango.com

Boots -  www.drmartens.com

The Tux - m.hm.com

Top -  www.uniqlo.com

My Office..

x

 

Motivational Beats

 You will often see a random dancer in the studio, the gym or just hanging out in the changing room with their headphones on ! It’s a great way to just motivate us to do that quad stretch or get us in the mood to hype ourselves for the next rehearsal. The key is - what music is going to best prepare me for what I’m about to do? Sometimes it’s Faure’s requiem ( my favourite classical piece ) before yoga, and sometimes it’s Chemical Brothers while pumping in the gym!  However saying this, some days it’s just nice to zone out, away from it all. Especially when you have a show in the evening, the days can get long. I like to listen to ‘LBC Radio’ some afternoons, just to shake things up. 

Here’s a taster of what gets us jetèing out of our beds and pointing our toes ..

I’m listening to ... 

I Feel Love - Donna Summer 

 https://open.spotify.com/track/6efRrfjV1YW1rtecLUHoP1?si=boj2eLcu

Nicol listening to.. 

 Counting on Me - Aeroplane 

 https://open.spotify.com/track/7fYECRxSRbhOB9JtsQtmQj?si=ca9qnAw2

Melissa listening to .... 

River - Bishop Briggs

 https://open.spotify.com/track/7lNQ4YZEAZc1nvfSNPzSvU?si=IG0cPPnE

Nehimah listening to ..

NBR Radio  

 https://open.spotify.com/show/3hFdRfj7sdZb82jnYSvHFj?si=z7e7GHQc

Claire listening to ... 

Stay Awake - London Grammar

 https://open.spotify.com/track/2OVDbwqXO828DRJHxQSWX5?si=5KeQzsxC

Harry listening to ... 

Daydream - Medasin  

https://open.spotify.com/track/6DEDhjTllUrPw29BivTvn2?si=mziK62a1 

Beatriz listening to .. 

Colored Lines - Nakaya  

 https://open.spotify.com/track/5oy9JcNziIlNrgybXmFjmN?si=EdHps3qW

Luca listening to ...  

Beautiful People - Jimmy Cliff

https://open.spotify.com/track/5yoAAVeGTLkP7aezWcbsfN?si=VFHrqwoq  

 Nadia listening to ...

Nick Mulvey - Mountain to Move.  

 https://open.spotify.com/track/7FFJTBErmrxgOIlQrA7Zoq?si=0mOYjfCe

David listening to .. 

Drops of Jupiter- Train

 https://open.spotify.com/track/2hKdd3qO7cWr2Jo0Bcs0MA?si=42GbotCT

Then there is the Sarah , very relaxed listening to ..

BBC Radio 4 ! 

 www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

Adult ballet

Ballet is not just for professionals. Any one can do it. I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph for a couple of days on an adult amateur ballet course earlier this summer. These are not kids who do summer school every year, they are normal people with full time jobs - doctors, teachers... even a geologist! I admire their dedication in leaping out of their comfort zone - they could be on a beach in Majorca but instead they are working hard at their hobby.

 Their outfits were a big part of their day and I decide to do a blog based on them as they looked so great! Ballet Style knows - you can walk the walk but do you have the look....?! 

Loving Holly's use of colour here. The matching cardie with leotard is so cute and the nude skirt blances it off. 

Cardie - http://m.boden.co.uk/ 

Leotard -  http://www.yumiko.com

Anita, Naomi and Vanessa draining their legs with an array of ballet footwear ! 

Vanessa's Boots -  http://uk.blochworld.com

Tony in an all black ensemble.

Ballet shoes -  http://uk.blochworld.com

Sarah in a cosy jumpsuit in between classes.  

Yasmin looking very chic and on trend with a striking red top and headband. 

Sabina in a thick knitted scarf with a floaty floral skirt. 

Great use of colour from Zoe. 

Skirt -  http://www.designedbyalice.co.uk

Some really fun skirts worn by Jess and Tracy. Super colourful !  

Skirts - https://m.facebook.com/balletmafialondon/

Not for the faint hearted but Thomas wears his tiger stripes with confidence!

Unitard - made by Thomas himself- Diamond Flamingo ! 

Boots -  http://bbooties.eu/Home.php

A striking catsuit worn by Gill. Appreciating those gorgeous mesh panels.  

Catsuit -  http://www.sweatybetty.com

Yoshi wearing matching jacket and leg warmers, in some dynamic stripes. 

Jacket and leg warmers -  https://www.chacott-jp.com

Amazing shout out to Henry St Clair ... (my husband, haha !)   who provides these summer/easter courses - showing that ballet is not just for professionals but for everyone ! 

https://www.balletagent.com/about

My Make-Up Must Haves

 Day -

I don't like to wear too much make up. Its lovely to let the skin breath and recover from the night before.  Also, I know it sounds silly, but I like to see the before and after in the evening, from rehearsal look to 'showtime' !! Saying this though , some days my face just needs a little bit of help! This is when i choose one of my top make up helpers.

Evening -

This is when we cake on the make up. Every feature on your face has to be accentuated so the back row of the auditorium can see that slight eyebrow lift after a solo! I use these 5 must haves with another 8 items on top. For example - fake lashes with mascara included!

NUMBER 1..

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

I've just discovered this beauty of a foundation! It's super, on the expensive side, but it really is worth the price. Very light but doesn't evaporate on the first bit of sweat.

NUMBER  2.. 

Lancome Hypnosis/Rimmel (the green one !)  

Mascara, I feel, can transform your face. From looking like you've had 8 hrs sleep rather than the 6, having said that, I don't always wear it during the day in rehearsals. On stage? Yes , always ! I love and worship Lancôme but don't quite have the budget. I found Rimmel 'wake me up ' mascara, I have to say it's very good. Really does thicken and curl the lashes. I'm impressed at £7.99 ! 

NUMBER 3.. 

Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo 

My number one choice for lippy! Many dancers choose this colour for our on-stage look . It's vibrant, and just gives that 'pow' to your pout ! I have many lipsticks but this one tops the tops! 

Tip- For this colour you need to use a lip liner, a smooth edge around the lip is a must !

NUMBER 4.. 

Lipcote 

So this little gem you'll see a lot backstage. It makes your lipstick last a lot longer. It's like a top-coat nail polish but for lips. On stage lipstick can fade quickly, from drinking lots of water between solos or smooching your partner on stage, there is no time to reapply the lipstick. One coat of this and it lasts for the whole show!

NUMBER 5.. 

Eyeko skinny eyeliner 

Only discovered this eyeliner in the last 3 months. It doesn't run and is so easy to apply a feline flick with. I've had a lot in my career and this is the best I've tried so far.

Ballet in Brisbane

Touring is always an exciting time for a dancer and performing in Brisbane is no exception. This is the shortest and furthest tour I've ever been on with The Royal Ballet.

Stretching on the plane.  

I'm here for 8 days and doing 2 shows of 'Becomings' in 'Woolf Works'. It's a hard and very strenuous role I do, so the flight and inevitable jet lag was playing on my mind. A long haul flight (13 hrs to Singapore & another 8 hrs from Singapore to Brisbane) is not desired for anyone especially not a dancer. If you are a Principle with the company then you get to fly Business Class, other dancers are not so lucky. But that's ok, we've got it all under control. You will see a lot of dancers at the back of the plane,( by the toilets !) stretching, doing some pilates, reviewing what films they've just seen, to keep inflammation and tightness at bay. A lot of us also wear recovery socks or tights or both, and suck on zinc tabs to keep our immune systems up.

Couldn't believe it when I saw my face on one the posters promoting the company's tour... First time ever !  

Feeling a bit rough round the edges. 

We had 2 days off to recover from this flight ( we usually have 1 ) but I did the optional class on the 2nd day as I needed to keep my stamina and strength up for my shows at the end of the week. My body didn't feel too bad but the jetlag was on a whole other level ! 

  Qpac's stage door. 

It's really exciting to visit your new theatre for the first time- check out the stage, your dressing room , see what's cooking in their 'house' canteen. There is alway a great buzz in the air, apart from when people start to get lost!! Before a full call rehearsal of Woolf Works I have a photoshoot and interview with Brisbane's 'Courier Mail' newspaper. I felt incredibly lucky to be part of promoting the company in this way.

Behined the scenes pic for photoshoot with Alexander Campbell. 

It's really tempting to go out in your free time and explore the city, but sadly my achilles tedonitis has really stirred up after the flight so it's physiotherapy for me everyday and rest when I can.

Physiotherapy with Caryl

It can be frustrating at times to travel somewhere and only see the theatre, your hotel and local restaurants but it's a sacrifice you make to get the best shows you possibly can achieve when you're there. It's not every tour that this is the case. But for me, this tour is short with an intense workload.

The hair and make-up!

Jetlag hasn't been kind and it's incredible how it can effect your dancing. Woolf Works 2 is incredibly exhausting at the best of times but after my stage call it felt 4x harder. I felt like I had been hit by a bus, I vomited after - I think through sheer exertion.

I found out the day before my first show that one of my dance partners has fallen ill and won't do either show. Edward Watson steps in ( he does first cast ), we have a swift rehearsal working out lifts and details ( every cast has slightly different ways of doing what looks like the same choreography. It's group coordination more than anything else. ) 

Shot from my second solo. Photo by Alice Pennefather  

David Donnelly looking sharp! 

After the opening night of 'Woolf Works' the theatre, QPAC, held a lavish black tie party for the whole company! Champagne, sushi, DJ, it was a truly wonderful event. My first show was the next morning so I felt like it wasn't my time to celebrate, I didn't want to jinx my show. I decided to be the 'photographer' for the evening and created a blog instead of joining the fun ( 'The QPAC party' blog ). Usually I love nothing more than a pint of champagne but I don't like to drink the night before a hard show.

Season complete.  

I finished my last show this afternoon and I'm at the airport about to fly home tonight. I was happy (and relieved!) that both my shows went well, it was electric out there on stage, a fantastic energy from everyone. The audiences were incredibly warm - we even got a standing ovation! Brisbane you have been a blast. Till next time....

Opening scene. Photo by Alice Pennefather

A QPAC Party

After the opening night of 'Woolf Works' QPAC theatre held the company a fabulous black tie party! 

Champagne, cheer and style was in abundance! 

Steven

Ben & Akane

Paul & Tristan

Grace

Ro & Yuhui

James, Lukas & Tomas

Yasmin, Mica, Gina, Camille & Anna

Ashley

Kevin, Isabella & James  

Mara

Marcelino

Itzi

Federico

Francisco & Chi

Josepeh  

Frankie & Tom

Leo, Leticia, Mariko & Julia

Bea

Claire

Gary

Giacomo, Maria, Charlotte, Harry & Teo

David

The superb physio team- Rob, Caryl & Greg  

 For the evening I was the photographer so no champers for me! I had to be on my game as I knew you would like this insight! Xx

Bikram Ballet

You may have noticed it's been pretty hot in London recently! Everyone loves a hot day, but not necessarily a hot studio ! Studios can get quite muggy at the best of times, from dancing and sweating in there all day. When the day is hot as well, I like to call it Bikram Ballet, ( Bikram Yoga is a hot yoga style, and it's practiced in a room heated to 35–42 °C)! A hot day has its pros and cons for a dancer  

The pros

• Warming-up takes less time in the morning

• You are less likely to strain muscles

•  Dancers are generally happier !!! We tend to have a deficiency in vitamin D from being cooped up on stage or in the studio, so more sunshine is good.

The cons   

• Heat can exacerbate any existing injuries by increasing inflammation

• Can make dehydration quicker

• Can bring on fatigue  

 However, hot temperatures or not it doesn't stop these dancers looking ever so stylish ! 

Eric looking effortlessly cool and retro with tiny boxer shorts. Love them.  

Some splashes of colour with this skirt and a halter neck leo and keeps me cool. 

Skirt - www.lovelilydanceandleisurewear.com

A fun mishmash of sunnies, shorts and thick leg warmers for Marcy. 

Double short shorts for Annette.  

shop.lululemon.com

Fumi's wearing soft pale colours, with a floaty skirt.  

Going for a strawberries and cream look but still not handling the heat well!

Skirt - www.lespetitesjupesdepatricia.bigcartel.com

Adoring Julia's flamingo leotard. Bringing some Miami Vibes to class.

Leotard - m2.hm.com

Why wear a top in 30 degree heat while interval training ? Nicol's thoughts ! 

Estelle wearing 'baggy boyfriend' shorts from 'Champion', easy and relaxed. 

www.champion.com

Leticia and Chi showing their beautifully toned balletic legs. 

Claire going tightless with just beautiful arches as an accessory. 

High bun, gillet, ballet shorts and flip flops ? Sian makes it work !  

Chi showing us how to cut your ballet tights to a perfect length to flatter those pins !  

Leotard. Ballet skirt. Pointe shoes. That's all I need today. It's too hot.

Leotard - dancexclusive.co.uk 

Skirt -www.lespetitesjupesdepatricia.bigcartel.com

No footwear for David, it's how he rolls.  

Lara rocking a sporty look in class.  

Pins are out in 34 degree heat ! 

My Top 6 costumes 16/17

Here is a countdown of my favourite costumes this season 16/17! This season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I was very ill with a nasty sinusitis infection which led to me missing a triple bill, and to be honest I'm still not fully back. I've been told that the virus I have, can last for a few months. Also, on top of that I'm still fighting the pain in my achilles ! But it wasn't all doom and gloom, I had some exciting debuts this year, (Countess Larisch/ Carabosse)  and have had a great time going back to some old roles in 'Carbon life' and Helena in 'The Dream'. With these roles came working with incredible coaches to put me on that stage. Dame Monica Mason, Leanne Benjamin and Johnny Cope to name a few.

So here's the countdown..

 Number 6... 

 My first costume is Florestan in 'The Sleeping Beauty'. It's an adorable little tutu, with bows and pink puffy sleeves. I personally loved the choker as well, gave that 90s throwback edge!

   Number 5...

My next costume is Olga's in 'Anastasia' Act 1. A light and breathable costume to sweat in, I also felt very true to the period the ballet was set in. The sleeves and collar with the fine lace sewn in made this a very feminine number. . 

 Number 4... 

Who can forget Carabosse in 'The  Sleeping Beauty'? Before I did this role I didn't realise how this costume is quite a raunchy little number !! Layers and layers of dense lace on the bottom half and fine delicate lace on top, with a serpent intwined around the bust area.  It was a very special role for me, and to work with Dame Monica Mason was a real highlight of the season. 

Number 3... 

Number three is Demi Diamonds in Balanchine's ballet 'Jewels'. The dropped tulle tutu, encrusted sparkles, and lace gloves, it screams 'BALLERINA'.  It reminded me of one of Degas paintings 'Dancers, Pink and green', however there was one flaw to this costume.... it showed serious sweat marks !!

Number 2... 

And at number two is Countess Larisch in 'Mayerling' act 1. I love this costume but I think it's more what this costume represents for me than the costume itself. A costume I never thought I would put on in my career, I couldn't quite believe i was doing it, and to also get an extra show with Edward Watson was a slight dream-come-true moment. 

  And Number 1 Is...

Orlando - 'Woolf Works II' !!

A gold suit with an Elizabethan collar, a peplum waist, and detachable arms.... What more could you want?! It does weigh a ton but it's absolutely worth it. I feel so strong and powerful with this costume on, it fires me up, and this is before I start dancing, hear the music and see the set. It's an absolute genius of a costume!

In action with my number one costume. Photo by Alice Pennefather.  

The Art Of Zen

Tonight is the final show at the Royal Opera House for Zenaida Yanowsky.

Putting aside Zen's dancing for a moment, she is one of the most unique ballerinas I know. She exudes an inner confidence and it shows in her style - wearing a unitard with a luminous yellow t-shirt underneath, throwing her hair up with a couple of pins and not a dash of make-up.

There's a sense of 'don't give a damn' in Zen, she's just incredibly cool, unbelievably hard working and an absolute laugh to work with. I've never met such a humble person. I remember once going to the laundry room and Zen was quietly folding my clean  washing into a pile. That sums her up perfectly - she didn't know who's it was, she just wanted to help.

She's got the body and height of a supermodel and legs that go on for days. Whatever she wears looks uber-stylish, not many people can get away with a babygrow!

Zen, I'm going to miss your dancing, your unitards, the legs and your wicked sense of humour!

Get Shorty

A good pair of shorts can really put you in the mood to work hard - they're more sporty and athletic than a skirt and there's no hiding, you've really got to work your legs. That's why you'll see a lot of us wear them for class at the beginning of the day.

Dependant on repertoire, us ladies go through phases with our choice of shorts. What length? Baggy and grungy or an incy wincy 70's gym hot pant. You decide...

Chi

www.gap.co.uk

Julia

 m.nike.com

 Leticia

 m2.hm.com

Melzie 

 www.blochworld.com 

Hikaru

 www.decathlon.co.uk

Ro 

www.freedoflondon.com

Yas

 m.primark.com

Nats

 uk.blochworld.com

Sarah

 uk.blochworld.com 

Olivia

I'm wearing - www.capezioeurope.com

Lizzie

www.capezioeurope.com

Sian  

www.gap.co.uk

Lauren  

blochworld.com

Claire  

primark.com

Charlotte  

m.nike.com

Tierney

uk.blochworld.com

Gem

m2.hm.com

Mayerling - Behined The Scenes

Mayerling - what a beautiful ballet. One of the real gems of the Royal Ballet's repertoire and a ballet and a role that I've always wanted to dance. I was lucky enough to be able to perform the role of Countess Larisch( as a debut ), considered the glue that holds the narrative together. Rudolph's lover, the woman who procures Mary Vetsera for him and the character that appears throughout the ballet, orchestrating proceedings. 

 As much as I enjoyed my performance on stage there was also a performance off stage - constant changing of costume, hair, jewellery and shoes. I was astounded at the amount of work that goes into the characterisation of these roles behind the scenes. The costumers, milliners, make-up artists and designers deserve real appreciation for their role in creating my role. 

Here's a glimpse into the off-stage performance. 

ACT ONE, A LIGHTER DRESS FOR THIS ACT. HAVE TO TAKE OFF LONG ELBOW GLOVES FOR THE PAS DE DEUX, AS THEY CAN AFFECT GRIPS WHILE PARTNERING. MY NECKLACE IS ALSO SEWN ONTO MY DRESS TO KEEP IT OUT OF MY PARTNERS FACE. 

THIS WIG IS NOT THE MOST FLATTERING, BUT I KIND OF LOVE IT AS IT REALLY DOES PUT ME INTO MY ROLE - THE AMBITIOUS DESPERATE LADY THAT COUNTESS LARISCH IS. 

ACT TWO, CARD SCENE. GORGEOUS OPULENT COSTUME. A VERY IMPORTANT SCENE FOR THE STORY. QUITE HEAVY ON THE BUSTLE, SO HAVE TO TAKE EXTRA CARE WHILE MANOUVERING AROUND THE TABLE. 

THE HAT LOOKS BIG BUT IS ACTUALLY QUITE LIGHT, SO IT DOESNT AFFECT MY TURNS. ALSO, I CAN'T USE AS MANY HAIR PINS AS I'D LIKE AS THEY TAKE SO LONG TO GET OUT AND THERE'S NO TIME DURING THE QUICK-CHANGE. 

ACT TWO, HOFFBURG SCENE. MY FIRST QUICK CHANGE FROM CARD SCENE. AS I HAVE A VERY SHORT TIME TO DO THIS, I DO THIS QUICK CHANGE IN THE WINGS RIGHT BY STAGE. ITS TRICKY AS THERE ARE A LOT OF HOOKS AND BARS FOR THIS COSTUME TOO! 

ACT THREE, SNOW SCENE. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS OUTFIT! IT DOES GET QUITE HOT IN THERE AND IS VERY HEAVY BUT IT'S ALL WORTH IT FOR THIS GLAMOUR!

I HAVE TO DO A VERY QUICK CHANGE FROM SNOW SCENE TO BEDROOM SCENE. IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS I HAVE TO CHANGE MY HAT TO A HEADRESS, SWAP JEWELLERY AND OBVIOUSLY CHANGE OUTFIT. 

ACT THREE. BEDROOM SCENE. PERFECT DRESS TO FINISH WITH. LUCIOUS HEAVY VELVETS BUT LIGHT AS A FEATHER. 

Missing The Pointe

When we are not dancing our hearts out in our pointe shoes (or in flatties as men) then we need good comfortable footwear. When walking between rehearsals, canteen visits, physiotherapy suite, costume fittings, Opera houses can be big. A dancer is very particular about their chosen shoe. Some like to keep the foot and ankle warm and go for a big boot style. Or a trainer to support the foot and it's alignment, or like me - have an array of footwear all dependent on the day !!!

ED IN HIS CLASSIC SLIPPERS. SUPER WARM, SUPER COMFY, VERY COOL. 

www.amazon.co.uk

MAYARA WEARING TRAINERS WITH FANTASTIC BRIGHT AND WARM SOCKS

 www.newbalance.co.uk

YUHUI AND MARCIE HAVING FUN WITH THEIR BOOTS.

YUHUI'S STARRY BOOTS - www.uniqlo.com

MARCELINO'S DIP-DYE BOOTS - www.blochworld.com

LETTIE IN SOFT SLIPPERS  

 m.primark.com

YUHUI IS GOING HARDCORE WITH HER SLIPPERS. WALKING WHILE RECEIVING REFLEXOLOGY !  

 www.amazon.co.uk

LOVE AKANE'S CHOICE OF COLOURS WITH THESE GREAT TRAINERS.  

 www.newbalance.co.uk

I LOVE MY NIKE AIRS AS NOT ONLY ARE THEY VERY SUPPORTIVE BUT ALSO HAVE A SLIGHT HEEL RAISE WHICH IS GREAT IF I HAVE TIGHT CALVES. 

 m.nike.com

HAYLEY GOING FOR A GOOD SUPORTIVE TRAINER. 

 m.nike.com

SARAH KEEPING HER TOOTSIES WARM IN THESE CLASSIC BOOTIES.  

 www.blochworld.com

WHEN I WANT A BIT OF LUXURY, THESE SLIPPERS TICK THE BOX !

 www.aandreassen.com

DEMELZA WEARING THOSE BALLET BOOTS AGAIN. 

 www.blochworld.com

LARA GIVING HER TOES SOME AIR IN HER FLIP FLOPS.  

 www.havaianas-store.com

MY SLIPPERS LIKE YUHUIS COME WITH A LITTLE MASSAGE ON EACH WALK. I WEAR THEM WHEN MY FEET ARE VERY TIGHT. I BOUGHT THEM YEARS AGO IN JAPAN, SO SADLY CANT REMEMBER WHAT STORE I BOUGHT THEM FROM ! 

MATTS TRAINERS ARE COMFORTABLE, YET VERY COOL. 

 m.nike.com

LOVE THESE GREY TRAINERS FROM ANNETTE ! 

 m.nike.com

GEM GIVING HER POOR FEET SOME AIR AFTER A HARD SHOW!

 www.matalan.co.uk

Inside My Ballet Bag Today

Here's a look inside my bag on Wednesday 19th April. I was also holding a practise skirt for my role in Mayerling as Countess larisch. It's quite big and needs to be hung as it's part of the costume department. 

Small pair of shorts for ballet class. They keep my hips warm before I kick start the day. 

 like2b.uy/gap

I wear these flatties for barre during ballet class. A shoe that is softer than a pointeshoe so I can feel the floor and get to use all the muscles in my feet and lower legs before I put my pointe shoes on for the day. 

 www.blochworld.com

A cute little ballet skirt for my rehearsal for the upcoming Quad bill! 

 www.lespetitesjupesdepatricia.bigcartel.com

Thera-band for exercising my feet  

Foot Roller for massaging my feet between rehearsals. They tend to really cramp up! 

 www.decathlon.co.uk

Huel Bar - great energy bar- lots of protein minerals and vitamins. Perfect for that 4pm slump!  

 https://huel.com/products/huel-bar?variant=34004756230

Mints...... for fresh breath! Will be kissing Federico Bonelli in our rehearsal of 'Mayerling'  this afternoon!

My water bottle that I got from Joyce Theatre, New York while touring there 2 years back. 

I always have a selection of shoes in my bag. Today I've got a pair of Diamond white shoes, so I can break them in before tonight's show ! 

 dancer.com

Tennis balls? No, massage device - video to follow.....

www.decathlon.co.uk

Always have an extra pair of toe pads and scissors in my bag. Super crucial.  

My luxurious slippers for when tired feet need a bit of love. 

 www.aandreassen.com

 Hope you enjoyed looking inside my ballet bag. More to come...