Page 115 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FASHIO N MAG A ZINE || 115FMM: When do you think you realised that what you were doing in your daily drill would become your profession for life?VT: I realised what i wanted my profession to be really quite early in life. I went to a fulltime ballet school at 12 years of age and was accepted into The Australian Ballet school at 15. It was around then that i realised that this is what i wanted to do in my life, however it wasn%u2019t until i was accepted into The Australian Ballet that it actually became my life.FMM: How often do you dance in a day/ week?VT: I dance roughly 40 hours per week. Thats 6 working days and only Sundays off.FMM: Tell us about your most recent projects?VT: Well as i write this i am currently in Los Angeles on a US West Coast tour with the Australian Ballet of Graeme Murphy%u2019s Swan Lake. Once we get back home to Melbourne we have a one week turn around before we are in Sydney opening La Bayadere.FMM: What do people not know about the world of Ballet?VT: How all consuming it is. How insanely difficult it is, both physically and mentally. How good it makes you feel when watching it live.FMM: How long did it take you to become a professional Ballerina.VT: I started Ballet at 7, became semi-serious about it at 12, became really serious about it at 15, graduated at 18, got into the Australian Ballet at 18 and now I%u2019m 24 and still doing class everyday and still striving to get better everyday. It doesn%u2019t end.FMM: What companies have you been with?VT: I have only ever been with the Australian Ballet although earlier this year i spent two months on a dancer exchange in Amsterdam with Het Nationale Ballet.FMM: How have you injured yourself dancing through the years?VT: I have been really, really fortunate and never had any super serious injuries. I had a pretty bad Ankle sprain in my first year in the Australian Ballet which had me off stage for about 3 months, rehab-ing. For a dancer to have small %u2018niggles%u2019 is fairly normal considering how much physical activity we do. Achilles Impingements, tight hip-flexors and shoulder impingements are my common niggles that pop up.FMM: Do you have any secrets for dancing?VT: No, just feel it and love it.FMM: What is the hardest thing about Ballet?VT: Do you have half an hour? Its like asking %u201c What is the hardest thing about life?%u201d, where to begin?FMM: What are your favourite steps to move/ perform?VT: I don%u2019t mind, as long as those steps are joined to make beautiful movement.FMM: What is your favourite classical Ballet?VT: Giselle. I first watched this ballet when i was 8 or 9 and it made me cry, it still does.FMM: What is your breakfast of choice?VT: Wholegrain toast with vegemite, Avocado (lots of avocado!), cracked pepper, sea salt and a squeeze of lemon. Thats my breakkie 6 out of 7 mornings. Plus Coffee!!!!!!FMM: What is your pre performance ritual?VT: I don%u2019t really have a ritual. I just do my hair and make up, do a warm-up barre and probably go over some steps. If I%u2019m particularly nervous ill have a rescue Remedy drop. >>>