Curious about what being a ballet dancer is like? Two dancers of Swan Lake 2024 by Singapore Ballet share how they got started, what a typical day looks like, and more.
Say the word ballet, and you’ll likely picture graceful dancers leaping across the stage and effortlessly executing turns and elegant moves. But behind every show-stopping pirouette and jeté lies years of hard work, sweat and passion dedicated to their craft. Professional ballet dancers at Singapore Ballet, Kwok Min Yi and Kana Minegishi, know this best. Curious about their daily lives? We pull back the curtain for a chat with them – who will both be performing the principal roles in Singapore Ballet’s final production of the year, Swan Lake 2024!
Say hello to the dancers of Swan Lake 2024 by Singapore Ballet
Back to first position: How they got started with ballet
How exactly does one get started with becoming a professional dancer? For both dancers, it traces back to pure curiosity and wonder as a child.
Kana, 33, recalls watching a musical with her mum when she was younger and found herself intrigued by a ballet scene. She asked to attend ballet classes and continued dancing throughout her schooling life. When studying in Japan, Kana shares how there were many professional dancers in her school whom she looked up to. That was when she realised her aspiration to be like them, embarking on her journey as a professional dancer for 14 years and counting.
For 32-year-old Min Yi, she remembers peering through the glass windows of the dance studio where her sister was attending a ballet lesson. In the spur of the moment, she tried out for a pre-primary class (without having any ballet shoes or leotard on), fell in love with the art form, and has been in this line of work since November 2012.
“My heart was set from a very young age when I found out that ballet could be a possible career choice,” she shares.
Rinse and repeat: A peek into their daily routines
Unlike the rest of us, Min Yi and Kana spend zero time seated in front of screens. In a typical 9-to-6 work day, the bulk of their time goes to perfecting their craft and practising dance sequences.
Their day starts at 9am with warm-up sessions before a ballet class that lasts for 1.5 hours. Next, it’s rehearsals all the way till 2pm. After a one-hour lunch break, rehearsals resume till 5.30pm when they call it a day. In their free time, you can find them stretching out their muscles, or sewing and preparing their pointe shoes.
While they typically work five days a week, Min Yi adds that the schedule changes during performance season where they’ll have to clock in long hours on weekends.
Debunking myths: Assumptions made about them
Ask Min Yi and Kana about a common misconception people have about professional ballet dancers, and they’ll agree on one thing: most assume they have strict diets or don’t eat much.
The truth is, they eat a lot, reveals Kana. Similar to athletes, professional dancers have to fuel their bodies sufficiently to keep up with the intensity of their practice and stay in shape. Min Yi adds that nourishing their bodies helps with muscle recovery, too.
Kana cooks almost every day, preparing a variety of Asian and Japanese dishes. Meanwhile, for Min Yi, it’s all about balance and having everything in moderation – yes, that includes the occasional bubble tea, cup of juice or iced coffee after a hearty meal!
Pursuing their dreams: Being a dancer in Singapore
We see you, dancers, writers, musicians, and aspiring artists out there. But admittedly, the arts scene in Singapore tends to take a backseat compared to other flourishing sectors. Having greater support from the public can go a long way for professional dancers like Kana and Min Yi.
“Watching a ballet production is not common in Singapore and I wish for more people to know how attractive it is,” shares Kana, who believes that the local ballet scene is primed with many talented dancers.
Like any other job, being a professional dancer comes with its ups and downs. But Min Yi agrees that she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m just so glad I can have a professional career in ballet and pursue my dreams while still being close to my family in my home country,” she shares.
Catch them in action: Swan Lake 2024 by Singapore Ballet
To wrap up the year, Singapore Ballet will hold its final and most-anticipated performance of the year: Swan Lake 2024. Watch as Min Yi and Kana take the stage as Odette (White Swan) and Odile (Black Swan), portraying two polar opposites in this classical ballet favourite. Psst: Min Yi will be performing for all the evening shows while Kana will be starring in the matinee shows on 14 and 15 December!
Featuring Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score and remarkable choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, it’s a family-friendly performance for all ages. Plus, the performance is accompanied by live music from the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra. Priced from $98 per pax, tickets are available online via Sistic.
A famous classical ballet, a gorgeous set and costumes, and an incredible score… there’s no reason not to catch this beautiful staging in December!
Swan Lake 2024, 12 to 13 December, 8pm; 14 December, 2pm and 8pm; and 15 December, 2pm and 7pm; Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
This post is in partnership with Singapore Ballet.
