By TurnedOutPointeOfView on Friday, August 23, 2019
Thank you for the Question Lina!
A normal day for a dancer would begin by getting to the theater between 9:00 am – 9:50am. Some dancers like to start their day with Pilates, so they arrive in time to get a workout in before ballet class. Others may have a physio appointment and get to the theater around 9:15am or so. Or like me, possible go for a run around Kongens Have before ballet class, arriving at the theater at 9:40am. Of course there is also a group of dancers that sleep until they have to get up and be in class at 10am.
Basically, our day technically doesn’t start until 10am for ballet class but most are up and moving before 10am. We work a six day work week too. (Monday through Saturday)
A Non- Performance Day looks like this.
Ballet Training Class: 10am- 11:30am
Ten Minute Break (grab a snack time)
First Rehearsal Period: 11:40am- 1:30pm
Lunch Break: 1:30pm-2:15pm
Second Rehearsal Period: 2:15pm-4pm
The theater can call dancers for what we call an, Evening Call. An evening call is for one or two hours and you get paid extra for these rehearsals.
Extra Evening Call: 4:15pm-6:15pm
It is not uncommon to find dancers stretching in the gym, or boys doing a weight training session, or a dancer fitting in some extra cardio at the end of the their day. Either at 4pm or 6:15pm. There is also always someone with their feet in an ice bucket getting rid of the inflammation from the days work.
A Performance Day looks like this:
Ballet Training: 10am-11:25am
Five Minute Break
First Rehearsal Period: 11:30am- 12:30pm
Lunch Break: 12:30pm-1:05pm
Second Rehearsal Period: 1:05pm-3:00pm
Can be called for an Evening Call from 3:15pm-5:15pm
Start Preparation for a Show: (Makeup, Hair & Warmup ) Approximately 6pm
Some dancers start earlier and some start later. Depends on their personal routine or role in the evenings performance. I would say on average the dancers arrive between 6pm- 6:30pm to prepare for a 8pm show.
Show: 8pm-11pm
(Possibly ice an injury, ice-bucket, stretch, or put your feet up after a show.)
Late night snack.
Bed.
The girls also have to sew all their pointe shoes at some point during the work week (between 1-4 pairs depending on the dancer). You can always find a dancer sewing throughout the day somewhere in the theater. We sew during a slow rehearsal or even in our own lunch break. Sunday is also a big sewing day. (our only day off)
The dancers have access to two Physical Therapists that we can sign up for throughout the day for 30 minute slots. One masseuse is also available for 30 minute massages throughout the day too. 🙂 (YES!!)
A doctor comes once a week (Wednesdays) so injured dancers can be looked at or scanned. There is even a sauna for us to use at our own disposal.
Dancers are always doing something, pretty much. 🙂 We live busy, hardworking, but magical lives.
xoxo
-Hol