Wolverhampton Grand: Russian State Ballet of Siberia to perform The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Coppélia

It will arrive in Wolverhampton to feature at the city's Grand Theatre on February 5, 6 and 7 to perform a triple bill of smash-hit shows in the form of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Coppélia.

It will be the Company's 15th UK tour and we caught up with principal dancer Anna Fedosova, aged 20, to find out what it takes to get to the top – and stay there...

At what age did you start dancing and when did you join the Russian State Ballet of Siberia?

I started dancing at the age of 10 when I went to ballet school. I joined the Russian State Ballet of Siberia two years ago after graduating from the ballet school.

When at your Krasnoyarsk base what does your working day consist of: for example what time do you get up, how many hours do you spend at the ballet company and what does your training involve?

I get up at 8am, get myself ready for the work, have a little breakfast and go to theatre. At theatre I start training for about one hour and then my rehearsals start. I have a break in the middle of the day and then again rehearsals.

What kind of diet do you have to keep fit?

I do not eat too many sweet and pastry things.

What do you do to relax in your spare time when you are not practicing?

I prefer to relax by resting at home and reading magazines. Also, I try to get more sleep if I can! I like to walk along the river bank when I have spare time.

Have you toured the UK before – if so how many times and what do you like about British culture?

I toured once in the UK and I liked to be in England very much. I do not know much about British culture but everything I have seen was very advanced and versatile.

Can you describe what a typical day on tour involves?

I get up early in the morning and have my breakfast which I prepare the day before. Then I get ready for going outside and go for a walk. Then I travel to the theatre and start doing my ballet class, after that there is rehearsal, a short time to get ready for the performance and then the show starts.

Will you be performing in all the ballets on the tour? Do you have a particularly favourite role and, if so, why?

Yes, I will be performing in all ballets on the tour and my favourite is Swan Lake because this is the most beautiful and the most elegant role for a ballerina. Every little ballet girl dreams to dance as this character in her career.

How long does it take you to prepare for a performance and do you have a specific warm-up and warm-down procedure before and after each performance?

Normally I need half an hour to warm myself up before going on stage and I do warm up in my special way, flexing and stretching legs and arms. I also need to keep my muscles warm between rehearsals and between shows and for that I use wool warmers and sweaters.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

I think this is my role of Odile in Swan Lake, everyone says that I am the best.

Any useful advice you can give to young ballet dancers here in the UK?

I wish for all young ballet dancers to fall in love with dancing, with everything you do on stage and then the audience will definitely fall in love with you.

The Nutcracker will be performed on Sunday, February 5 at 4pm, with Swan Lake following the next day at 7.30pm and Copéllia on Tuesday, February 7, also at 7.30pm.

By Andy Richardson