The best advice I ever received There is something different to learn from every single part of the journey as a dancer, but two things really stick in my mind. Once, when I commented on how something went wrong in my performance, Steven McRae (Royal Ballet) said, ‘Always remember that no performance will ever be perfect. The sooner you accept that, the happier a dancer you will be.’ It can seem quite blunt, but it is very true – we should constantly aim for perfection but simultaneously accept that things will go wrong and we need to enjoy the journey regardless of these mistakes. A performance isn’t about one step, it is about the show as a whole. Secondly, my dear friend, James Barton at Scottish Ballet, told me to ‘always be brave.’
The advice I would pass on Focus on technique, but never forget about artistry. Remember that at the end of the day, we are attempting to make the audience feel something. The truest, most vulnerable performances you can give will be your most powerful as nobody else will ever be able do it the way you do. Be brave and be you!
