After a good break it has been a bit of a struggle getting back into the working routine. Normally I would still do class over the summer but it has been a complete break this year because of my injury. I was, however, doing special exercises to build up the muscles around the injured area in my foot and of course some swimming on my holidays! Thankfully the rest has enabled my foot to recover and I am working flat out again.
The first week back was just class and then it was into rehearsals of Swan Lake and the new Michael Corder ballet. Johnny (Cope) and I will be performing a couple of pdds in the new ballet which is a very classical piece for 22 dancers. At present, however, it does not have a name and the costumes are still not ready. So the only inside info I can give you is - there is not a tutu in sight! Roberto Bolle was over rehearsing Swan Lake for a week before going off to Japan to perform Giselle. He then came back to start rehearsing again two weeks before the first night. It is an honour to open the season and I have always loved dancing Swan Lake. Since my debut in 1990, I have performed the role many times all over the world but every show is different and I am really looking forward to dancing with Roberto. Our rehearsals have been going very well; working with different partners is fun and stimulating - always an eye-opener.
Roberto has danced Swan Lake before, of course, but this will be his debut
performance at the Royal Opera House. When you are guesting with another company, you sometimes have to learn new versions of a classical ballet and I often think that this is one of the hardest things a dancer has to do. You really need to be 'on your toes' to stop yourself going back to the one you know best. I have performed Swan Lake in two other, quite different forms. Johnny (Cope) and I danced the Kirov version when we guested with the
National Ballet of Tokyo; and I also danced Balanchine's Swan Lake with the New York City Ballet - partnered by Igor Zelensky. The Balanchine is totally different from the Swan Lake most of us are used to, since it's performed as a one act ballet. Fortunately I haven't needed to learn as many versions as Igor or Roberto, since I don't actually guest that much.
I have been working recently with Wayne McGregor who is a contemporary choreographer. He recently choreographed a dance for the Royal Ballet which was performed in the Clore Studio. We have been working on a solo which is going to be broadcast as part of a TV programme about Wayne's work. The programme is being sponsored by the Arts Council and my solo is sponsored by Virtuosi 2000 through the Gold Council.
Although rehearsals take up
most of my time there have been no shows therefore I have been busy with other projects. I was asked to help raise money for the Northumberland Wildlife Trust Charity by drawing a squirrel (one of about 200 celebrity drawings) which was auctioned over the internet. I was also greatly honoured to open an Arts building at Chamberlayne Park School in Southampton. It was the first building I have ever had named after me and I was asked to the unveiling ceremony at the beginning of September. The purpose-built centre is part of the co-educational school and gives the students the opportunity to study Dance, Drama and Music. I had a wonderful afternoon there and I would like to thank all the students for their interesting questions, their wonderful gifts and for making me feel so welcome!
I was also fortunate to attend the première of Billy Elliot with a few colleagues from The Royal Ballet. The film was really fabulous and although some press reports portray the film as being quite slushy it also shows the grit required to succeed in ballet. The film was partly based on Philip Mosely's life which made it even more fascinating to watch! Philip is a first artist with the Company and he is also involved in the management side of running the Royal Ballet. He came through the Royal Ballet School in the same year as Viviana Durante and he used to dance with her quite often. At the première we indulged in a bit of star-spotting. Sarah Wildor, who was there with her husband Adam Cooper, sat next to Hugh Grant. See Billy Elliot if you can!
Follow the link to Part Two where you will be able to read about my other exploits!
