Making it bigĀ withinĀ theĀ danceĀ industry demands strength, stamina and unwavering determination ā something that Principal of The Royal BalletĀ Yasmine NaghdiĀ is living proof of. The professional dancerĀ and BLOCH ambassador began herĀ balletĀ career training at The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge and Upper School, and has since risen through the ranks of ballet, dancing such famous rolesĀ as Juliet inĀ Romeo & Juliet, Odette/Odile inĀ Swan LakeĀ and Sugar Plum Fairy inĀ The Nutcracker.
So just what does it take to reach such success, and how does she spend her dancing days? We caught up withĀ Yasmine to find out what a typical day for her is like, how she prepares for a bigĀ performance,Ā and her must-have BLOCH products!
When did you know you wanted to be a ballet dancer?
As a child I could never sit still, I always had to be on the move. I started doingĀ gymnasticsĀ aged five, but my parents panicked when they saw me doing backflips by the time I was seven!Ā I first triedĀ balletĀ because my best friend took classes and I fell instantly in love with it. Dancing gave meĀ inspirationĀ and was a wonderful way to express myself. Once I felt my ballet teachers believed in me and I started getting good roles in The Royal Ballet School performances, this gave me the confidence to believe in myself. The positive working process made me strive to become better every day.Ā TrainingĀ is a long and hard process with many hurdles and setbacks, so you need to build mental strength and self-motivation.
What is your day-to-day routine like?
I arrive at the Royal Opera House by 9:30 a.m. and head to my dressing room to prepare for company class and the day ahead. Iāll either do Pilates beforehand or just go directly to the studio to do my warm-up and stretching. Class starts at 10:30 a.m. and finishes at 11:45 a.m.. I have a 15-minute break, then go straight into another studio to work with my coach and rehearse for upcoming roles. If I have an evening performance, I'll finish rehearsing by 5:30 p.m. and have an early dinner, otherwise I may continue my rehearsals until 6:30 p.m. after which I'll go home and relax.
How do you prepare for a big performance?
Once I finish my afternoon rehearsals, Iāll eat a nutritious meal to give me energy forĀ performance,Ā then go into my dressing room to do my make-up. If I need a specific hairstyle ā like for the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy or Juliet ā then a member of our amazing wig team comes to my dressing room to do my hair. Whilst getting ready, I prepare my feet wearing myĀ BLOCH Warm Up bootiesĀ and anĀ all-in-oneĀ warm-up outfit, before going to the studio to stretch. Once I feel warm, I return to my dressing room, put on myĀ tutuĀ or costume and head to the stage. Here I getĀ into my zone as I donāt like to wait in the wings for too long. A few minutes before Iām due to go on stage, I jog from my dressing room to the wings, then it's ready, steady, go!
Can you share some of your personal career highlights?
The first was dancing Olga in John Cranko'sĀ OneginĀ when I was a corps de ballet member. Another was dancing Juliet in Kenneth Macmillan'sĀ Romeo & JulietĀ when I was a soloist, as well as Aurora inĀ Sleeping BeautyĀ when I had just been promoted to first soloist. My stand out moment was dancing Odette/Odile inĀ Swan LakeĀ just after I had been promoted to Principal.
How do you take care of your feet?
I never have pedicures as I want to keep the skin on my heel and toes hard, so they feel well cushioned when Iām dancing inĀ pointe shoes.Ā I like to practice barre in socks, so I can feel the muscles in my feet working properly. I always do centre work on pointe to ensure my muscles are well activated for a full day of rehearsals. The one thing I suffer with is bruised big toenails, so I always pad them with aĀ Big Toe CushionĀ ā they really save my toenails!
Whatās your exercise regime like?
Daily company class consisting of barre and centre work, Pilates and working in the practice studio with a coach if I need to work on specific areas on my body. A ballet such asĀ Don QuichoteĀ orĀ FirebirdĀ requires many jumps, so I may work on strengthening those particular muscles needed for jumping. Iāll also work with weights in the gym to target weaker areas that need attention.Ā
What are your favorite BLOCH products?
BLOCHĀ leggingsĀ are really cool! They are so flattering and I like the sporty look. I also love myĀ BLOCHĀ Resistance BandĀ as itās the perfect strength for the foot exercises I complete before the rehearsal day gets going.
Which BLOCH shoes do you wear?
I wear custom-made BLOCHĀ pointeĀ shoesĀ tailored to my specifications. I haveĀ HeritageĀ soles* as they provide the best stability when balancing flat on one leg. My shoes are very similar to theĀ Serenade Pointe ShoeĀ I used to wear as a student at The Royal Ballet School.
Which style of BLOCH leotard is your favorite?
My favoriteĀ leotard is from BLOCHāsĀ newĀ collection. Itās lilac with a zip at the front and floral pattern on the back. The style is comfortable and looks very elegant.
*We recommendĀ youĀ be fitted by our professional BLOCH pointe shoe fitters each time you purchase a new pair of pointe shoes to make sure they fit perfectly. An appointmentĀ must beĀ bookedĀ in advance of everyĀ fitting.Ā
Shop Yasmine's favorites and the full BLOCHĀ dancewearĀ range now!
