Backstage

Meet Natalie MacGillivray

I am a dancer, which means training, trying out new skills and practicing ones that might be needed for specific show, so always being open to trying new things and seeing it as a fun challenge. We rehearse and change and adapt as we go, working towards performing and sharing our work with audiences. Even though we rehearse a lot, our performance never stands still, it is real in the moment, and different each time, just as different as we all are each new day.

In balletLORENT we are more than just dancers, we also teach and create and sometimes get asked to find props, costume and set to try out. As a team we work out what we need, we all help to make the bigger picture happen.

Keep doing what you enjoy, find what keeps you motivated, understand your body, your strengths and your weaknesses. Weaknesses are not failures, it just means you are good at other things!
Natalie MacGillivray

Get to know Natalie

What’s your advice for aspiring dancers?

Try all sorts of styles of dance as you might not have found the one that you enjoy the most – or in my case you might find many different styles exciting. I have been asked to perform many things that I never would have dreamed of from climbing, hula hoop, circus wheel, bamboo stick, animal characterisation, voice work, opera mouth sync and even puppetry.

How do you create a new role?

Liv will have ideas to try out and we try and make them come to life through movement and storytelling. The first part of creating is all about play, creating images, embodying emotions. We also work a lot with set, props and costumes, so we try many different things to see what works and what doesn’t. Through lots of experimentation, the work and the characters start to take shape.

How do you prepare for a performance?

We rehearse a lot, getting to know the show inside out and become confident with the role. On the day I warm up, make sure I have lots of food and water, check props, costume and make sure they are all in the right places, I do make-up, mentally prepare myself and go!