In Motion: Spend An ‘En Pointe’ Day With A Sydney Dance Company Performer

1 month ago 14

The black box, ballet barre and mirrored walls of a dance studio are laden with mystique. From playing a starring role in psychological thrillers like Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan and Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria to becoming the training ground for prima ballerinas like Anna Pavlova, patrons of the arts rarely have a glimpse of what goes on inside a dancer’s life in the lead up to them taking the stage.

For emerging performer Wareya Anuyahong, her 9-5 couldn’t be further from these enigmatic speculations. A trainee in the Sydney Dance Company’s pre-professional year program, Anuyahong is amongst a cohort of students undergoing a rigorous full-time course at Australia’s leading contemporary dance group.

“Every day, we take technique and conditioning classes and participate in workshops, lectures and choreographic developments,” she tells GRAZIA. “We learn from PPY teaching staff as well as industry specialists, choreographers and artists,” she adds of her rigorous daily commitment to fostering creativity and technical improvement.

Her desk is a lacquered wooden dance floor. Her office essentials are a leotard and cosy shoes she can slide into between rehearsals. Thankfully for the Sydney Dance Company, the ensemble has partnered with Sydney-based footwear brand Everau for its shoe needs. Lauded by the company for the premium sheepskin styles crafted from A-grade merino wool, Anuyahong claims they’re the ultimate must-have for days when she’s heavy on her toes.

“Throughout our intense days it is so important to keep our feet warmed up, ready for whatever our next class might be,” she explains. “In between classes I love to slip on my Everau croft as the merino wool keeps my feet so comfortable and warm.” Ahead, Anuyahong takes us through her unconventional 9-5, including what a usual day in her atypical life looks like.

“As a Pre-Professional Year student, I train at Sydney Dance Company’s Wharf Studios on the harbour from 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday. We take technique and conditioning classes and participate in workshops, lectures and choreographic developments every day. When the Company is in residence, Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and members of Sydney Dance Company’s professional ensemble also deliver classes, workshops and repertoire.

A Day In The Life Of A Dancer With The Sydney Dance Company

Our typical day begins at 8 AM, an hour before we start class. I make my way to Sydney Dance Company studios and make sure my body and feet are warm. From then we jump straight into Yoga with Jolie Brook, which runs from 9 AM – 10:30 AM.

From 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM, we have classical ballet with Linda Gamblin or an improvisation technique workshop with Tobiah Booth-Remmers. We break for an hour over 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM. During this time I either grab lunch from the café and enjoy some sunshine on the wharf at Dawes Point on Sydney Harbour where we rehearse, or enjoy lunch with friends in the dedicated PPY Green Room. I love to throw on some comfy Everau Uggs or Croft slides at this time to keep my feet warm before my next class, which is a three-hour block.

From 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM, we have contemporary technique and repertoire with Juliette Barton, or sometimes a Guest Choreographer workshop. It’s so important that we look after our bodies as dancers, especially our feet, so having comfortable and supportive shoes or slippers to put on is a must. Depending on the dancing during that day, icing my feet is sometimes necessary, meaning having warm soft slippers like the Everau Croft slides to put on after is ideal! Most importantly I will rehydrate my body and perhaps finish my day with tea while watching a show on the couch to wind down.

Shop GRAZIA’s favourite (and dancer-approved!) Everau styles below.