Name - Natasha OughtredAge - 24
Born - Hull
Training - “It all began when I was three-and-a-half. Wherever there was an audience, I would start to dance – if I was in the supermarket I would spin around. My parents felt I needed to do something with it, so I began dance classes in Hull with Vanessa
Hooper. After the first class, Vanessa's mother said 'You're going to lose that little girl to the Royal Ballet School'.”
Companies - Royal Ballet (Soloist)
Birmingham Royal Ballet (Principal)
Repertoire - Frederick Ashton: Daphnis and Chloë (Chloë)
George Balanchine: Concerto barocco (lead role)David Bintley: The Shakespeare Suite (Juliet), Take Five ('Three to Get Ready') and David Bintley and Gali Samsova's production of Giselle ('Harvest pas de deux') John Cranko: Card Game (Two of Diamonds)
Marius Petipa: Paquita (Fourth solo) Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Rose Fairy),Coppélia ('Prayer') and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova's production of Swan Lake (Odette/Odile)
Some questions from interviews -
What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning?It's less about motivation and more about necessity at 5.45am when I drop my fiancé, Simon off at the station and say goodbye to him when he goes back to London for the week. It's hard getting up but I enjoy the time I have after that before I go to work. It's a chance to get myself straight for the week with paper work etc so I can be focussed on work. But other than on my early Monday starts, my driving force is work. I love what I do and the
day I don't want to get up and dance is the day I retire.
How do you prepare your shoes?
Until last season I would spend almost 45 mins on a pair of shoes- darning the tips to form a platform, sewing elastics on the backs... I seemed to be forever sewing. Then my workload increased when I became a First Soloist and now I ha
Until last season I would spend almost 45 mins on a pair of shoes- darning the tips to form a platform, sewing elastics on the backs... I seemed to be forever sewing. Then my workload increased when I became a First Soloist and now I ha
ve taken to just sewing the ribbons on, shaving the sole with a Stanley knife and off I
go. Now the shoes are ready in 5 mins - it's great!
What is your daily routine at the moment?
I get up just before 8; drive into work to arrive at 9. I go aqua jogging most mornings - it's great for stamina building and waking you up. We are very lucky to have a pool in our Jerwood Centre at Birmingham Royal Ballet. After I've showered there is just time for a 30 min session of Pilates before class at 10 30. Class lasts 1hour 15 mins and then I have rehearsals until 1 30. At the moment I am busy learning 'The Dream' and 'Two Pigeons’, both of which I love. We then have an hour break when I eat my lunch that I brought in with me whilst frantically sorting out wedding plans for this summer! Rehearsals go on until 6 30 and then I go and stretch and ice bath if I need to. I drive home and then I have a quick supper so I can get outside and do some gardening before its dark. It's the perfect way to unwind. I speak
What is your daily routine at the moment?
I get up just before 8; drive into work to arrive at 9. I go aqua jogging most mornings - it's great for stamina building and waking you up. We are very lucky to have a pool in our Jerwood Centre at Birmingham Royal Ballet. After I've showered there is just time for a 30 min session of Pilates before class at 10 30. Class lasts 1hour 15 mins and then I have rehearsals until 1 30. At the moment I am busy learning 'The Dream' and 'Two Pigeons’, both of which I love. We then have an hour break when I eat my lunch that I brought in with me whilst frantically sorting out wedding plans for this summer! Rehearsals go on until 6 30 and then I go and stretch and ice bath if I need to. I drive home and then I have a quick supper so I can get outside and do some gardening before its dark. It's the perfect way to unwind. I speak
to Simo
n on the phone and then I head off and then I try to get to sleep by 12ish.
Who inspired you to dance?
I was given a video when I was 5 or 6 of Anthony Dowell and Natalia Makarova dancing Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House. I watched it so many times that it's a wonder I didn't wear it out. Back then I particularly enjoyed watching the Neapolitan dance. I remember raiding my Mum's dressing table for ribbons to tie round my arms - just like the costume on the video and banging a toy tambourine round the house. The video of Swan Lake was not only responsible for inspiring me, but it also gave me grand ideas. I amused my mother greatly when she was running me through my first ever ballet solo;
"Now what must you do at the end of your dance when
I was given a video when I was 5 or 6 of Anthony Dowell and Natalia Makarova dancing Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House. I watched it so many times that it's a wonder I didn't wear it out. Back then I particularly enjoyed watching the Neapolitan dance. I remember raiding my Mum's dressing table for ribbons to tie round my arms - just like the costume on the video and banging a toy tambourine round the house. The video of Swan Lake was not only responsible for inspiring me, but it also gave me grand ideas. I amused my mother greatly when she was running me through my first ever ballet solo;
"Now what must you do at the end of your dance when
the music has finished?" she asked
"Pick up my flowers!" I replied earnestly.
"Pick up my flowers!" I replied earnestly.
What is your best piece of advice?It is so important to be happy where you are working and who you are working with because without this it is very hard to develop as an artist.
Which role has tested you the most and how?I think Swan Lake has been the biggest test to date. It was my first full length ballet as the lead and not only is there many technical challenges but there is also such an aura surrounding the role Odette Odile. I had seen so many fantastic performances of it during my time at the Royal Ballet that it was a little daunting setting about creating my Odette Odile. Needless to say the video of Makarova came out again! I loved the process in the end as there is so much room as an artist to develop these roles.
Which role has tested you the most and how?I think Swan Lake has been the biggest test to date. It was my first full length ballet as the lead and not only is there many technical challenges but there is also such an aura surrounding the role Odette Odile. I had seen so many fantastic performances of it during my time at the Royal Ballet that it was a little daunting setting about creating my Odette Odile. Needless to say the video of Makarova came out again! I loved the process in the end as there is so much room as an artist to develop these roles.
What are you most proud of?
That I am pursuing my dream.
That I am pursuing my dream.
when were you born????
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