What career moment are you most proud of?

There are many proud moments in the life of a dancer but the one I won’t ever forget was my first bow to my first audience as a professional ballet dancer. That was a very special one. Even with the years passing, the stage nerves that won’t probably ever leave me, the curtain call at the end of a performance feels like the proudest moment ever.

What’s your favourite ballet to perform?

My favourite ballet to perform has to be David Dawson’s Swan Lake. It has been a long dream of mine to perform this ballet that I have been very lucky to tick off my bucket list. I love this production because it really celebrates the corps de ballet at its best – every swan poured heart and soul into each show. Such a challenging yet inspiring ballet, being the most rewarding experience so far in my career.

What’s something people might not know about you?

I was a competitive swimmer and basketball player before I started ballet at 12. Whenever I need a confidence boost I think of little me standing on a podium with a shiny medal, proudly breaking a record in my region in Italy for my age group, with the butterfly stroke.

I am also a qualified personal trainer!

What does “home” mean to you?

Being from both Italy and Scotland makes this a hard question for me, but I think it is the people and the feeling I get when I’m in each place that creates home. It’s a feeling of warmth, love, happiness and belonging that creates home.

What’s the funniest thing that happened on stage?

I was performing the role of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. I was laying down on the bed in one of the dramatic bedroom scenes when suddenly I felt as if I was moving… the brakes on the bed mistakenly weren’t on, the bed started rolling and funnily enough we were performing on a raked stage. As I started to pick up speed and see the orchestra pit approach, a few stage technicians saved the day and wheeled me and the bed back upstage. It all happened in just a few seconds but it is something I still hilariously laugh at today.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell myself to chill out, have patience, that my time will come.

What’s your favourite book/movie and why?

8 Mile, a film containing autobiographical elements from Eminem’s life. A story of finding the strength to turn pain into power. This movie always inspired in me an undying will to work hard for your dreams.

What’s your hype song?

Again… Eminem, “Lose Yourself”. Sorry, I’m a big fan!

Repertoire Highlights: Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella and Stepsister in Cinderella, Mercedes in Don Quixote, Bertha in Giselle.

‘the Chinese divertissement, choreographed by Annie Au, and first seen in the 2021 production, is a highlight, danced with expressive lightness and softness by Danila Marzilli and Madeline Squire.’
The Nutcracker, The Times, December 2024