In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?
Passion, purpose, freedom.
What would be your favourite ballet to dance?
One of my favourites to dance was Albrecht in Giselle, I had an opportunity to dance the role when I just became principal dancer at Royal New Zealand Ballet and it had huge impact on my ballet career. I also loved performing and being part of the ballet Onegin and Nijinsky.
Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?
It depends. If you live in big cities, there are multiple opportunities to watch ballet or take lessons in many different schools, but it is hard to have same access to that if you live in more rural areas. Also, ballet is well established as an art culture in Europe for example, because of that, there is a lot of support from government, community and organization so that they can make ballet more accessible, but there aren’t many countries outside Europe that values ballet in the same way. I hope ballet can become more universally accessible.
What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?
It is sad fact but I have to say when people say ‘that when you work hard, you will be
rewarded’ is not always the case in ballet world. Yes, I have seen many hard-working people succeed in professional ballet career, but also I have seen many talented dancers who don’t get same opportunity as others even when they put so much effort. Ballet is a beautiful art form but sometimes ballet world can be complicated place.
What are you reading right now?
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.
One thing that most people don’t know about you?
I’m a bit of clean freak. I am constantly cleaning something.
Why is the work BWB do so important?
Ballet can be very expensive thing whether you watching or dancing. That’s why I think many people are hesitant to reach out to this industry. BWB ensures that everyone should be given an opportunity to be introduced to this wonderful art form no matter what your financial status or background is.
Favourite ballet to watch?
I absolutely love Manon. Score, emotion, musicality and technicality of Pas de Duex, it’s just beautiful masterpiece. I also love watching Dances at a gathering by Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe’s works, Bolero by Maurice Bèjart.
If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?
Probably I will tell myself to see the bigger picture and try not to think too much or be afraid to fail. Everything will work out in the end. Enjoy the process.
You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?
Hope I can have huge forest somewhere with other elephants, so that elephant can thrive in their natural habitat because that’s where they belong and they deserve the best.