The Russian State Ballet of Siberia returns to Bromley and Wimbledon in January for performances of classic pieces Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Snow Maiden and Swan Lake.

Principal dancer Anna Fedosova, 20, told us what it takes to be a ballerina.

At what age did you start dancing and when did you join the Russian State Ballet of Siberia?

I started dancing at the age of 10 when I went to ballet school, I joined the Russian State Ballet of Siberia two years ago after graduating from the ballet school.

When at your Krasnoyarsk base what does your working day consist of?

I get up at 8am, get myself ready for the work, have a little breakfast and go to theatre. At theatre I start training for about one hour and then my rehearsals start. I have a break in the middle of the day and then again rehearsals.

What do you do to relax in your spare time when you are not practicing?

I prefer to relax resting at home and reading magazines, also I try to get more sleep if I can. I like to walk in the river bank when I have spare time.

Can you describe what a typical day on tour involves?

I get up early in the morning and have my breakfast which I prepare the day before. Then get ready for going outside and go for a walk.

Then I travel to theatre and start doing ballet class, after that there is rehearsal, a short time to get ready for performance and then show starts. I will be performing in all ballets on the tour.

How long does it take you to prepare for a performance and do you have a specific warm-up and warm-down procedure before and after each performance?

Normally I need half an hour to warm myself up before going on stage and I do warm up in my special way, flexing and stretching legs and arms. I also need to keep my muscles warm between rehearsals and between show acts and for that I use wool warmers and sweaters.  

Any useful advice you can give to young ballet dancers here in the UK?

I wish to all young ballet dancers to fall in love with dancing, with everything you do on stage and then the audience will definitely fall in love with you.

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia will perform Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and the Snow Maiden at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre between January 11 and 13 and Swan Lake and The Snow Maiden at New Wimbledon Theatre between January 14 and 16. Go to atgtickets.com

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