When I worked with the ballet dancers in ‘Dido and Aeneas’ last month it allowed me the opportunity to get to know Emma McBeth a little better, she’s from New Zealand. Emma is in the third year of her ballet course but we didn’t bump into each other in the first year because she spent her first year of study in Sydney, Australia. During the Easter break I was working out a fitness program and wanted to incorporate some dance, as that’s far more enjoyable for me as it doesn’t feel like a session in the gym because it always passes so quickly, but believe me the after-burn is just as intense. Emma very kindly offered to run me through my paces and we had a fabulous session working out and having fun. I was intrigued to know more about Emma and her training and took the opportunity to find out about her life as a trainee ballerina.
At what age did you first start to dance and how did it all begin?
Formally at eight years of age starting with Tap and Jazz then continuing with ballet. My Mum had lots of ballet videos at home so I started to get inspiration from dancing in the living room. My main inspiration was how I was brought up being encouraged to have fun with dance, just moving around the house and I progressed to proper classes at eight doing exams.
Do you have one significant ballet that was your favourite?
We had all the classics on videos, one of the ones that really stood out to me was Don Quixote all that Spanish flair, one of those ballets that I’ve always wanted to do the solos and the pas de deux etc. I did the pas de deux and solos for one of my productions I did back in New Zealand, at the time I thought ‘oh my goodness this is the best day of my life’ it was so much fun.
How long do you dance each day, do you take weekend breaks; how do you structure your training?
At the conservatoire we dance Monday to Friday 9am until 6pm full time, warm ups are usually 08:30, it’s pretty much advised you also do your own practise too. I come in on a Saturday and practise and now I’m in the third year we also have classes on Saturday mornings with Scottish Ballet on a rota basis. Sunday is usually a day off but I use that time for other projects so I usually occupy myself.
A typical day we would have ballet class for two hours, 15 minutes break, maybe a two hour contemporary technique class, in the second and third year you have release technique class that can involve throwing ourselves around the room it’s a lot of fun and in the first year Cunningham technique strengthening the core and finding out the contractions and release. We then have 30-45 minutes lunch then maybe a solos class or pas de deux, contemporary or ballet repertoire classes, rehearsals for shows and things like that. Two days we have a jazz class for versatility, Pilates on Tuesdays, a wide variety of modules.
In first and second year there is theory work and studies, dance anatomy, music and dance history. We had a workshop on nutrition too which was very beneficial.
When did you start performing on stage or in front of an audience?
From when I started ballet we had end of term productions, my first one was Alice in Wonderland. I used to do competitions each two months and I’d do solos for that so I got lots of performing opportunities from about the age of ten. It is good for confidence, good practise for solo performing and being in front of an audience. When we performed in end of year productions I saw it as a celebration of the year and an opportunity to work together with the other dancers in elaborate costumes, we did Beatrix Potter and the costumes were fabulous, I was a kitten from Tom Kitten, the huge masks were the best fun thing ever, a great production.
The most memorable performance was in 2012, I competed in the Genee International Ballet Competition and I made it to the finals, the top 12. The finals night I performed to a full theatre, fortunate enough to perform three solos in front of a panel of international judges so that was amazing. There was apiece premièred that night and I was lucky to perform that choreography too. It was the most amazing thing and shared with the most incredible people and dancers and that’s when I really knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, I knew I wanted to perform professionally.
I finished school and I was 17 receiving university entrance and excellence in my NCEA qualifications and completed all my RAD ballet examinations. I then auditioned for ballet schools elsewhere. I went to Sydney for a year and trained there and then I got a scholarship offer to study in the UK, I auditioned and got accepted into several schools but was really impressed after visiting the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and decided to come and study here, I loved the fact it was a multi-disciplined Conservatoire.
What other subjects did you study?
In my final year I did History, dance, physical education, chemistry, calculus, and English. The dance education I had at school helped me a lot as it included choreography which has been very beneficial, I love choreography. My favourite subject outside of dance was History and I am still fascinated by the subject. We did a golf module in Physical education that I remember, we would spend an entire afternoon playing golf which was great fun. We also went canoeing down Whanganui River for three days which was quite an experience. I play piano too and started when I was eight, I balanced that, school and ballet and many other activities and I am glad that I did. When finishing school I passed my ATCL Diploma in Piano Performance, my knowledge of piano and music has helped with my musicality and appreciation for the class pianists. I collaborate with a girl in the Masters piano course and we worked on a Bridge week project last year and we’re working on another project at the moment, she is a fantastic friend to have and we work really well together. Another great reason to come here to meet such fabulous people and without my piano background we may have not connected in the same way.
What is your proudest achievement/s?
The Genee International Ballet Competition final in 2012. I also proud of being cast in the lead role of La Sylphide in the show last year, it was a very special thing. It was a romantic ballet and I’d never imagined performing a lead role in a romantic ballet. The coaching sessions helped me a lot as a dancer, actor and performer – picking apart the solos and the mime scenes, valuable advice I’ll never forget.
What is next for you?
Since this is my final year at the conservatoire, I’m auditioning for ballet companies in the UK and Europe. I have a final End Of Year Modern Ballet Graduation performance on the 5th and 6th June at the Conservatoire.
Long Term aims?
Perform in a ballet company and keep a professional performance career as long as possible. A ballet career isn’t very long and you need to maintain good health and stay without any injuries that’s ultimately what I’m concentrating on at the moment.
Emma’s Show Reel
I hope you’ll agree with me that it’s fabulous to read how hard my fellow students work here. Emma is such a lovely girl and I really wish her the very best for the future after she graduates this year.
Very interesting interview. Yes, agree with you. Best wishes to Emma ! and to George, and to you my dear Charlotte. Thanks for giving us this beautifull vibs. You all have a colored energy. Good work ! thank a lot !!
Bonjour Pascal 😊 Merci.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Calculus! I’ve decided not to become a ballet dancer.
😄 if I’d have chosen an academic degree it would probably have been Maths it was my favourite subject followed closely by biology. In my head I can still dance on pointe my body would probably tell me different if I tried it after three years break 😳.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful pictures! Dance photos are my favorite. And man, that is a LOT of dancing – 9 to 6 PM every day!
The last photo of Emma is just beautiful isn’t it. I need to make more time to put dance back into my life, it’s how to fit in regular lesson times that’s the problem with irregular rehearsals.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for introducing us to the most interesting people! Long may you two be good friends!
You’re most welcome Annette, I hope so too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Again, great interview. Thanks for that clip… a wonderful dancer with great potentials. I’ve enjoyed your interview posts, Charlotte.
Thank you very much Arti that means a lot from you, I always enjoy your reviews and posts. I hope that she has her dreams fulfilled this year, it’s a tough year ahead after graduating.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A fantastic interview Charlotte ~ such a talented dancer and great photos, enjoyed the video as well.
Thanks Randall, I enjoyed Emma’s video too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I am always at what dancers can do with their bodies, The thing is that we don’t know how much work, and I mean physical work, they put into it. And the sacrifices they make to do it.
Oh yes Don you’ve got to really look after your body, especially your feet. Such strength too both mentally and physically.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great to see the rewards of such hard work and dedication – especially from a fellow Kiwi!
When I left home at eighteen the three hour journey seemed a long way, friends like Emma put this into perspective moving to the other side of the world to train. New Zealand always looks and sounds a fabulous place I’d love to visit one day.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks for providing such a relaxed insight into the ballet life. Good luck all round! Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (bound to be some tunes you can dance to there!).
Thanks Thom I’ll take a look 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very interesting how well she has done
It is Barbara, the next step is a huge one for her, I’m fascinated learning what’s next for my friends.
Best wishes
Charlotte
That was very inspirational of you to interview Emma, and Charlotte, you two have a lot in common. Continue to sing to the glory of God.
I have a concert with the RCS Chamber choir a week on Friday at St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Another brilliant interview and blog work. Bravo.
Cheers Jim, hope you’re well and you had a good harvest this year.
Best wishes
Charlotte 😊
What a great piece. Found out so much.
Thank you Alex 😊
The video is wonderful. It is a pleasure to see someone doing something that they enjoy. That feeling is communicated through her dance!
It’s put together really well 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great video.
I agree 😀
Best wishes
Charlotte
A lovely interview. I love to dance but I sure can’t imagine dancing from 9-6 every day! Whew! 😀
It is a big feat Linda, I remember dancing days at school with after school classes too but this takes it right up to another level.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I especially enjoyed this interview and wish Emma so much luck. I thought her Sylphides particularly fine, with a lovely feel as though she has plenty of time for each movement. I danced classical ballet all through school and had dreams. I stopped aged 16 after my first teaching exam, knowing I was never going to be good enough, but I loved it.
I really miss my classical ballet, one of the deciding factors for me was that Scotland was a mixed discipline conservatoire and there were ballet modules available, sadly the take up in my year wasn’t sufficient to run and I couldn’t keep up outside lessons because evening rehearsals clashed. It was fabulous to do a dance class with Emma and I’m hoping to do some more again, such great exercise.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Such an enjoyable, informative and revealing interview. I think many people are surprised at how many hours dancers, singers and even musicians have to work and train each day. You are all more like athletes, having to keep fit and healthy at all times. I wish Emma all the best in her future career. I loved her video and I agree – that last photo of her is amazing!
Thank you Clare 😊, to study music full time is fabulous for me, there is so much to learn from everyone, so much history to soak up, so much diversity if I can just share 10% of this then I’ll see the benefits.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Well said!
Charlotte, Another wonderful interview ,you have such inspirational hard working friends.wishing you all lots of success and happiness in everything you do.😉 xx
Glad you’re enjoying them, I was hoping to interview Rob he’s been promising me for months but he’s so busy. See you soon.
All my best
Charlotte
I loved both your interviews Charlotte, but the one with Emma really intrigues me. How wonderful to be so fit. You look great in that first photograph by the way. You are living the dream, Charlotte. Enjoy every minute!
I had such a great class, really energised. When I danced regularly I could eat anything and was so fit, if I can just fit a bit more in this year 😀. I do try to enjoy every moment, it’s going so fast.
Best wishes
Charlotte
The interview is great and I loved the video!.
Emma McBeth is admirable…. Almost as much as you are, Charlotte… A ballet dancer and a Opera Singer!… Talent in its classical form…. Here’s to you two!!!! :star:
All my best wishes! Aquileana 😀
Awesome gal. I used to have season tickets to the Kennedy Center Ballet series, but no more. My favorite is the Midsummer Night ballet.
Could it be a dramatic spectacle?
She looks so graceful. Great interview!