Behind the scenes: with Natalia Kerner and Teresa Saavedra Bordes

Last month we took you behind the scenes into the studios at Northern Ballet, where we were privileged enough to submerge ourselves into the true depths of the commitment and hard work of the dancers.

During our time there, we caught up with dancers Natalia Kerner and Teresa Saavedra Bordes, who visited us over at Fazenda for dinner earlier in the year.

Whilst our visit opened our eyes to a world beyond the marvellous shows, stunning costumes and perfected choreography, we wanted to really delve into how a day really looks for a Northern Ballet dancer.

After company class, we were fortunate enough to catch up with Natalia and Teresa to get some answers to some of the questions asked by you, Fazendeiros. 

What does a typical day of training look like?

Natalia: We start our training at 10am and we always do the activation & company class beforehand. The first thing we have to do is warm up our bodies and wake up our muscles. Activation is like breakfast for us! We all have our designated places in the studio and at the bar, it's great and makes it feels a little bit like home.

During the company class we work on some routines and sequences. As you will have seen earlier, the pace picks up very quickly! The steps are very similar, always using classical ballet techniques, but the sequences change often.

Then it’s on to rehearsal for the rest of the day.

How are your days different when you’re on tour?

Natalia: Busy! We still do rehearsals when we're on tour, then we have the shows in the evening. The rehearsals aren't always for shows we are touring at that time, so sometimes we can be rehearsing for an upcoming production later in the year.

The time we have to rehearse and prepare for each show changes, but in the case of The Nutcracker, we have five months to work on this.

How important is your diet in training?

Natalia: Our diet is so important for our nutrition, strength and recovery. You may have seen a lot of the dancers snacking a lot today (healthy snacks of course!). We exercise a lot every day, and so we need to keep our energy levels high and drink lots of water!

Teresa: As well as our ballet training, we also do group workouts, swimming and yoga for example, so it's super important we keep our bodies fuelled.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a professional ballet dancer?

Natalia: I started ballet when I was so young, so I've been dancing my whole life. I never imagined that my dream would come true! I've always loved ballet, so I've been entering competitions and studying since I can remember. I couldn't see myself doing anything else!

With so much training required, how do you avoid injuries?

Teresa: Activation is key as it helps your muscles get stronger, but sleep - sleep is just as important as exercise!

What is your dream production and where would you like to perform it?

Teresa: To be honest, last year we performed at the Royal Opera House and that was like a dream come true!

Natalia: The Royal Opera House is like a ballerina's dream. For the show...I would say Romeo and Juliet.

Teresa: It's a dream of every ballet dancer - it's a very special experience.

With Northern Ballet what has been your favourite production?

Natalia: I really like what we are working now with The Nutcracker because I really love The Nutcracker in general. The last time we performed it was three years ago. It brings the Christmas feeling and makes me feel kind of warm.

Teresa: It was my first show as well! It was incredible!

Lastly, this is a question from us! We've seen some of the dancers wearing these boots - like ski boots. Why do you wear them?

Teresa: Ah, these booties! They help to keep you warm. Sometimes there is a lot of moving about between rehearsals and it helps to keep the muscles in the feet warm so you do not have to warm up again.

NEXT UP IN OUR ‘BEHIND THE SCENES AT NORTHERN BALLET’ SERIES: WE DELVE INTO THE WARDROBE AND WIGS DEPARTMENT.