Olivia: An interesting question that I am often asked when speaking to “normal” people is…..

Henry: Because you certainly are not normal…

Olivia: …is , what do you do when you’re not on stage?

Henry: An immediate and slightly pessimistic reply would be that we are always on stage!

Olivia: Yes obviously. We never have a moment to ourselves we work from 10.30am to 11pm on a show night….

Henry: Perhaps a more realistic answer is that although we love the career that we have chosen,

Olivia: and we do – let there be no mistake there!

Henry: We love it because it is so physically demanding, to be a dancer in The Royal Ballet is not just a job – it is a way of life.

Olivia: Any time we have to ourselves is invariably spent winding down and doing such mundane boring things like reading a magazine on the latest celebrity diet…

Henry: Goes for us boys too!

Olivia: Don’t forget the PlayStation 3 !

Henry: …..Oh yeah, that’s always a good one to wind down with!

Olivia: Although that never seems to be enough to satisfy the questioners!

Henry: During the season we work so hard that that seems to be the extent of down time. Perhaps dinner after the show and a few drinks, but that is the extent.

Olivia: It is only really during our summer break after every tour that we really relax physically and emotionally.

Henry: but in truth, usually within a few weeks we are ready for a dose of culture and there are visits to the theatre to see other dance companies or spoken theatre.

Olivia: There are times in the day when you get a chance to unwind.

Henry: True, albeit few and far between – these times are filled up with massages….

Olivia: trips to the pointe shoe room to stock up..

Henry: the girls are forever sewing in elastics and ribbons – and virtually destroying their pointe shoes just so they are comfortable…

Olivia: …and time to eat… with all the dancing we do we absolutely have to keep our bodies fuelled up. It’s vital.

Henry: and naturally the boys need to keep doing their weights…

Olivia: naturally.

Henry: Well we want to look good just as much as you ladies do!

Olivia: And of course you all do look good!