Behind the curtain

The beauty of ballet is in its artistry and elegance. Bodies moving, floating, in a way that barely seems human. What you don’t see is the training and recovery required to make those moments on stage seem effortless. We sat down with Francesca Hayward, principal dancer, for a closer look.

The illusion of effortlessness

When most elite athletes are pushing themselves, you can see it: A cyclist grimaces. A runner gasps for air. A gymnast fights to stick the landing.

Ballet asks dancers to do the opposite. Push your body to its absolute limit, all while ensuring nobody can tell when you step on stage, night after night after night.

Each performance can last around three hours, with multiple performances each week, plus the classes and rehearsals that fill the days. Francesca reveals that, come showtime,