013: Lucy Balfour, Ballerina at Rambert on performance, competition and motherhood

Lucy Balfour is a leading dancer at the world renowned contemporary dance company Ballet Rambert. Lucy trained at the International Ballet Academy in Christchurch, then spent ten years with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, before joining Rambert. In this episode, Lucy talks about the competitiveness of becoming a ballerina, the singular focus on realising her dream, with no back up plan. She talks about the pressure of selection and performing, maintaining self-identity throughout balanced by the privilege of being a dancer. Lucy is pregnant and gives an insight how Rambert have been supporting her to continue to rehearse and perform (Lucy performed on stage with Rambert up to 5 months pregnant) and now looks ahead with the question of whether she'll return to dance once she becomes a mum.

 

Show notes

Lucy's journey into dance

Decision ballet school or high school?

First ballet contract with The Royal New Zealand ballet company

Focus, rejection, perseverance and belief: developing resilience

No plan B

Dealing with rejection

Advice for the 16 year old Lucy Balfour

The day in a life for a dancer at the Rambert Dance Company

Coping with the ups and downs of the selection/audition process

Stay alert use rejection as a learning opportunity, learning from your peers without the pressure! Staying aware of your behaviour

Getting in the right place for a new performance: preparing physically and mentally, writing down corrections in a training diary and not being afraid to ask lots of questions

Late specialisation

Pregnancy and performance

Life after the birth

Dancing whilst pregnant

Facing the prospect of being a dancer and a mum

Viewing ballet through a different set of eyes which will help in the future, learning more about the craft of ballet

The length of a ballet career - it's not about age, it's about desire and physicality

Dancer's Career Development - thinking ahead

Wanting to inspire others, an ambassador for dance mamas and helping others to realise their potential at an earlier age

Top tips for a career in the performing arts

 

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