MOST Magazine Fashion Oct'14 ISSUE NO.2 | Page 115

FMM: When do you think you realised that what
you were doing in your daily drill would become
your profession for life?
VT: I realised what i wanted my profession
to be really quite early in life. I went to a fulltime ballet school at 12 years of age and was
accepted into The Australian Ballet school at
15. It was around then that i realised that this is
what i wanted to do in my life, however it wasn’t
until i was accepted into The Australian Ballet
that it actually became my life.
FMM: How often do you dance in a day/ week?
VT: I dance roughly 40 hours per week. Thats 6
working days and only Sundays off.
FMM: Tell us about your most recent projects?
VT: Well as i write this i am currently in Los
Angeles on a US West Coast tour with the
Australian Ballet of Graeme Murphy’s Swan
Lake. Once we get back home to Melbourne we
have a one week turn around before we are in
Sydney opening La Bayadere.
FMM: What do people not know about the world
of Ballet?
VT: How all consuming it is. How insanely
difficult it is, both physically and mentally. How
good it makes you feel when watching it live.
FMM: How long did it take you to become a
professional Ballerina.
VT: I started Ballet at 7, became semi-serious
about it at 12, became really serious about it
at 15, graduated at 18, got into the Australian
Ballet at 18 and now I’m 24 and still doing
class everyday and still striving to get better
everyday. It doesn’t end.
FMM: What companies have you been with?
VT: I have only ever been with the Australian
Ballet although earlier this year i spent two
months on a dancer exchange in Amsterdam
with Het Nationale Ballet.

FMM: How have you injured yourself dancing
through the years?
VT: I have been really, really fortunate and
never had any super serious injuries. I had
a pretty bad Ankle sprain in my first year
in the Australian Ballet which had me off
stage for about 3 months, rehab-ing. For a
dancer to have small ‘niggles’ is fairly normal
considering how much physical activity we
do. Achilles Impingements, tight hip-flexors
and shoulder impingements are my common
niggles that pop up.
FMM: Do you have any secrets for dancing?
VT: No, just feel it and love it.
FMM: What is the hardest thing about Ballet?
VT: Do you have half an hour? Its like asking “
What is the hardest thing about life?”, where
to begin?
FMM: What are your favourite steps to
move/ perform?
VT: I don’t mind, as long as those steps are
joined to make beautiful movement.
FMM: What is your favourite classical Ballet?
VT: Giselle. I first watched this ballet when i was
8 or 9 and it made me cry, it still does.
FMM: What is your breakfast of choice?
VT: Wholegrain toast with vegemite, Avocado
(lots of avocado!), cracked pepper, sea salt and
a squeeze of lemon. Thats my breakkie 6 out of
7 mornings. Plus Coffee!!!!!!
FMM: What is your pre performance ritual?
VT: I don’t really have a ritual. I just do my hair
and make up, do a warm-up barre and probably
go over some steps. If I’m particularly nervous
ill have a rescue Remedy drop. >>>

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