Manon...

Tonight we danced our first 'Manon' of the season.

A ballet by Kenneth Macmillan set in three acts (photos are taken of act III).

Follow the history and synopsis HERE

I love this ballet and feel honoured to be involved in one of Macmillan's finest works.... 

'a repertory classic'.

I'm looking forward to the Manon's to come!

Love

Charlie

xxx

Instaweek...

My Instagram week :)

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Love Charlie

xxx

just your average joe.....

Where does the time go????  It only feels two minutes ago that I was enjoying the summer and now all of a sudden autumn is here........  I don't want the time to fly, I want to enjoy moments more.... relish in happy spots and not watch it flash before my eyes.......

That is how it feels at the moment, as we jump from one ballet to another, you start to loose yourself as you (the 'normal' average joe).   Skipping from one fairy tale to another (quite literally), all it takes is one insignificant walk to work when the sun is caught in a beautiful line through the trees and you decide to stop and just enjoy something so simple but yet..... breath taking.

.....and then back to earth with a bump and on to stage for 'Coppelia'!

Love Charlie

xxx

On Stage...

Working with ballet companies differs so much.  One thing I love about working here is the rotation of performances, we are usually rehearsing four different pieces in the week and will perform two to three different ballets varying between Thursday evening through to Sunday.  For me it keeps the choreography fresh and you don't feel bored dancing the same ballet night after night!

Last night we danced Thomas Edur's ' Modigliani and tomorrow we will perform 'Coppelia'!

We are very busy rehearsing 'Cinderella' at the moment, which will premiere in November.  I love the choreography and going by my costume fitting yesterday, the costumes are going to be amazing..... hot pink...... very me!!!!!

 Daily photos are kept up to date on my Instagram page

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Love Charlie

xxx

Instaweek...

In theory it seems to simple to sit at my computer and post on my blog!! For some reason (i.e work!) this last week it just hasn't happened and I'm sorry to say that the world of CharlieHearts has solely lived through Instagram...

Here's my Instagram week!!!

 Daily photos are kept up to date on my Instagram page

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Love Charlie

Sunday....

On Sunday we had our first performance of 'Modigliani' of the season.  Thomas Edur's full length ballet about the 'cursed artist'.

Lunch time shows feel strange.....strange in the way that we have class at 1030am and our performance at 12.  I always feel like I'm chasing time, warming up and doing my make up and hair..... no sooner have you got up, you feel like you're already on stage and wanting to give your best performance for the audience.

Then of course the nice side of having an early show, is having the rest of the day to enjoy and relax!  Sunday's glorious weather gave us just that.... 

Love Charlie

xxx

Daily photos are kept up to date on my Instagram page

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Back To It...

We now back into full swing of training, rehearsals and performances. After a long eight week summer holiday (I think the longest holiday I've ever taken!) it hasn't being as hard as I imagined to get back into the rhythm of our daily routine!  As I said before in my last post, I'm enjoying my new season 'gym attack' and it's also such a good feeling to be back on stage!

The most bizarre moment of my week was at our 'Theatre Day' last Sunday in which we were set the task of seeing how many ballerinas fit into a Toyota Yaris!!!

We managed 22!!!

Love Charlie

xxx

Daily photos are kept up to date on my Instagram page

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A day in the life...

After numerous requests to starting posting 'my typical day', it was about time I got around to doing just that!!  

As we are only just warming up to that start of the season, days are not so frantic! (though I do still think I need more than 24 hours to a day!)

As the weeks pass, days will feel shorter, crazier and tiring.... but also performances, which are the 'perks' to all our hard work!  I'll try and make this post a regular fixture to my blog.

It took nearly an hour to sort out my things!!! Have way too much ballet gear, no idea how I collected so much OR how it all fits in my cupboard, but on the plus side, found things I had totally forgotten I owned :)

We have an hour and a quarter class every morning.  We always have separate girls and boys classes and rotate different teachers throughout the week.

Usually after a 15 minute break, our first rehearsal of the day begins..... 

It isn't everyday that we walk on to stage to find the inside of a church set out!!!

This set was for the opera, so we took the opportunity to sit amongst the pews, waiting for the stage crew to remove it!

I am an avid fan of pilates, this last year in particular.... 

My new interest is also the gym!  Naturally being on the skinny side, I am determined to beef up..... a little!!! Concentrating on my abdominals, back and arms, it's a killer and I have to force myself in there, murmuring the mantra in my head of NO PAIN, NO GAIN!!! (Is that true!!!???)

The Opera House has a new, swanky looking piano this season and we took to the stage to introduce it to the world!!!

At the end of a long day,  it's costumes hung up and time for home..... 

:)

Daily photos are kept up to date on my Instagram page

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And tomorrow, we will see how many ballerinas fit in to a 'Toyota Yaris'.... no joke!!!!

Love Charlie

xxx

Flying the Flag!

I feel very patriotic with my Team GB Olympic jacket! Flying the British flag and then matched with my Victoria's Secret pink and black striped sports top and pointe shoes on my feet, it's quite a combination..... sums me up quite well, mix and matched but well thought through!!!

Love Charlie

xxx

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As August Leaves...

With August about to leave us, the weather reflects the change of months.... One day it shines and the next it rains - it's kind of hard to keep up with these moods!!

After an eight week summer holiday, the start of our ballet season is inevitably 'hard'..... It's time to get the body back into its 'unnatural' ways, of twists, turns and face the odd stumble and tumble!!!  I enjoy the challenge of testing my strengths, though often frustrated with my weaknesses, I feel positive about our companies new season ahead :)

Love Charlie

xxx

Trousers and scarf - Primark

Jacket - Zara

Bag - Vivienne Westwood

Ring -  New Look

Bracelet and Necklace - Souvenirs from Walt Disney World :)

Sunglasses - Ray Ban