A Day in the Life of a Professional Ballerina

professional ballerina warming up on stage

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Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a professional ballerina looks like?

Ballet is a beautiful art form that requires passion and unwavering dedication.

It’s a career that demands motivation, determination, and daily practise to refine the essential technique and artistic qualities needed for performing on stage.

From morning classes to evening performances, a professional ballerina’s schedule is buzzing with activity.

Though exhausting and both physically and mentally demanding, the rewards of this profession are unparalleled and deeply satisfying.

In this blog post, I will share with you a typical day in the life of a professional ballerina (during a performance day); starting in the early morning, and ending late at night.

Table of Contents

PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA’S MORNING ROUTINE

A professional dancer’s morning routine can vary from day to day.

Typically, morning ballet class starts at the same time each day, unless there’s been a performance the night before.

Similarly, rehearsals may differ based on the day schedule and what performances are being prepared.

WAKE UP

I often found waking up at 7 am gave my body enough rest from the day before and plenty of time to organise myself in the morning before heading to the theatre.

BREAKFAST

In the morning, I always preferred to have something that would not leave my stomach feeling full before morning class.

A large cup of coffee, porridge drizzled with honey, and some fresh fruit always gave me the energy I needed to kickstart my day properly.

WARM UP AND STRETCHING

I was one of those dancers who always liked to arrive at the theatre early to have plenty of time to do a dynamic warm up and stretch before class.

I aimed to give myself between 45 minutes to 1 hour.

This allowed me to do a mini Pilates session and a quick stretch to engage all the different muscle groups.

That way, when I started barre, I already felt warm and ready to concentrate.

I needed this time to get in the zone, and give myself enough time to choose the day’s ballet leotard and do a last-minute toilet trip.

BALLET CLASS

On regular days, ballet class typically commenced at 9 am and concluded at 10:15 am.

Beginning at the barre, the class incorporated various exercises, each focused on specific movements to target the muscles essential for dance.

After the barre, we transitioned to the centre.

We put on our pointe shoes and ballet skirts and concentrated on exercises that involved more space (ie. moving combinations and pirouettes), and finished with grand allegro (large jumps and leaps).

The time always passed quickly, and despite the season, I worked up a sweat!

Following the class, I often spent some extra time refining my technique by practising movements or combinations that needed improvement or going over specific choreography before beginning the first rehearsal.

REHEARSAL

After a short 15-minute break, rehearsals kicked off.

I always felt rushed as I hurried to change out of a sweaty leotard and grab a quick coffee from the machine (yes, coffee is life!).

Depending on the ballets being rehearsed, I either had continuous rehearsals or some downtime.

professional ballerina during a ballet rehearsal

During breaks, I often utilised my time for personal practice or ballet conditioning or simply watched other rehearsals.

It provided an excellent opportunity to learn from my fellow dancers.

PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA’S AFTERNOON ROUTINE

A performance day usually means a slighter lighter workload including a set of rehearsals.

This provides a respite for the body to ensure peak performance during the evening performance.

The importance of feeling energised and well-rested is something every professional dancer can appreciate.

REHEARSAL

If I was dancing a major role, my soloist rehearsals would take place in the afternoon, whereas the corps rehearsals were always reserved for the morning.

On performance days, everyone finished rehearsals at 1 pm and rehearsals involved all dancers to finalise last-minute details before the evening show.

After finishing rehearsals, I would head home for lunch (luckily I didn’t live far from the theatre so I always walked).

I’d eat something that would give me energy without feeling overly full, and attempt to relax and rejuvenate before the evening performance.

Sometimes, I even lay down to have a sneaky nap.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

On performance days, I frequently opted to skip my regular Pilates session or gym workout, prioritising rest over body conditioning.

Listening to your body and recognising when it’s time to stop instead of pushing yourself is a vital aspect of a dancer’s well-being.

Sometimes, I chose to stay a little longer in the studio to roll out and stretch any tight muscles.

However, on other days, I would head straight to the dressing room, depending on how my body felt that morning.

SNACK

Before heading to the theatre, I would typically prepare a light snack to have before the warm-up class or the performance.

A banana paired with an energy bar or even a chocolate bar (when the time called for it), was my preferred performance snack.

This combination provided me with the necessary fuel for my body without causing discomfort due to nerves.

PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA’S EVENING ROUTINE

The time I arrived at the theatre varied based on the role and style of the performance.

For leading roles in classical pieces, I preferred arriving early to ensure ample time for a thorough warm up and preparation.

On the other hand, for contemporary pieces as part of the corps, I often spent more time at home before heading to the theatre.

From warming up to those last few minutes before the curtain opens, the theatre is transformed and backstage is bustling with nerves and excitement.

WARM UP CLASS

Before a performance, an optional 30-minute warm up class in the studio was normally offered depending on the style of the performance.

For contemporary or modern pieces, individual warm ups on stage were more common.

This quick barre and short centre class, incorporating exercises like tendu, pirouette, and petite allegro, helped warm up the essential muscles and provided a moment to centre ourselves before going on stage.

I always found that this time calmed my nerves and prepared me mentally for my role.

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Before warm-up class, I usually applied part of my stage makeup, focusing on the base and part of the eyes to prevent it all from sweating off completely.

After class, we usually had one hour before the start of the performance to finish hair and makeup and get dressed in costume.

Just enough time to add final touches like eyeliner, mascara, and fake lashes, along with perfecting the lips.

In the dressing room, our hard-working hair and costume ladies managed our hair, providing intricate hairstyles and adding specific accessories based on each dancer’s role.

Thankfully, their expertise made the process seamless, especially since my hair skills aren’t great.

PERFORMANCE

I always liked walking down to the stage early.

Sometimes, I’d put on my pointe shoes before putting on my costume, and be the first on stage.

I’d try to find my balance and practise any last-minute movements or combinations that worried me.

About 10 minutes before the performance, most dancers were on stage getting ready, trying a few pas de deux moments, and exchanging good luck hugs and wishes.

Every dancer had a slightly different approach.

Some dancers were overly chatty and enthusiastic, thriving on this type of energy, while others were quiet and focused and found a peaceful zone.

I was a mix of both.

But I did enjoy moments of solitude in my own space.

This was especially the case when dancing to more difficult roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.

As the curtains opened and I prepared for my first entrance, I was ready to bring life to my character and movements.

two professional ballerinas on stage during a performance

DINNER AND WIND DOWN

With the final bows and audience applause, the performance concluded.

There was often a sense of accomplishment for what I had achieved, although there was always room for improvement.

After a shower and changing into regular clothes, it was time to head home.

The excitement and adrenaline from the performance took a while to subside.

Typically finishing around 9 pm, I wouldn’t get home until 10 pm (we had six girls and only one shower in our dressing room!).

Performances meant late nights.

Fortunately, the next day usually started a bit later.

I would often have a high-carb dinner with vegetables and protein (often something fast like pasta) and sometimes unwind by watching a movie or TV show with my husband (who danced with me).