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Steven McRae: ‘Sometimes I feel 100 years old’ – the pain and the ecstasy driving star of Swan Lake Steven McRae: ‘Sometimes I feel 100 years old’ – the pain and the ecstasy driving star of Swan Lake
(about 11 hours later)
Those watching Steven McRae gracefully leaping and pirouetting across the stage during last week’s opening of Swan Lake would have had little idea of the physical hardship he endures for his art. Pulled hamstrings, sprained fingers, toenails so crushed they have to be drilled to relieve the pressure, and paracetamol before a show to relieve the pain ... it’s all part of being a world-class performer, according to the principal dancer at the Royal Ballet.Those watching Steven McRae gracefully leaping and pirouetting across the stage during last week’s opening of Swan Lake would have had little idea of the physical hardship he endures for his art. Pulled hamstrings, sprained fingers, toenails so crushed they have to be drilled to relieve the pressure, and paracetamol before a show to relieve the pain ... it’s all part of being a world-class performer, according to the principal dancer at the Royal Ballet.
McRae revealed the punishing schedules followed by ballet dancers, which are often more gruelling than those of most athletes. They were on their feet for up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, often without breaks, he said, and, crucially, without the recovery day that other athletes have.McRae revealed the punishing schedules followed by ballet dancers, which are often more gruelling than those of most athletes. They were on their feet for up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, often without breaks, he said, and, crucially, without the recovery day that other athletes have.
McRae, 29, says that he would like to become a director of a ballet company when he quits the stage, promising to introduce the best health care for dancers and more recovery time so that others avoid the problems he has suffered.McRae, 29, says that he would like to become a director of a ballet company when he quits the stage, promising to introduce the best health care for dancers and more recovery time so that others avoid the problems he has suffered.
By pushing the body to extremes, he says dancers often endure cricks in their neck, “dead” thighs, pulled hamstrings, swollen ankles, sprained fingers, “jammed” big-toe joints: “I have black toenails [and am] constantly getting them drilled to relieve the pressure. We’re jumping the whole time, destroying our knees. With every performance, you want to give everything you’ve got because that could be your last.”By pushing the body to extremes, he says dancers often endure cricks in their neck, “dead” thighs, pulled hamstrings, swollen ankles, sprained fingers, “jammed” big-toe joints: “I have black toenails [and am] constantly getting them drilled to relieve the pressure. We’re jumping the whole time, destroying our knees. With every performance, you want to give everything you’ve got because that could be your last.”
A typical day for a dancer, says McRae, would begin about 10.30am with a daily class of over an hour which involves vigorous exercise, an afternoon rehearsing and then finishing around 10.30pm, after performing in a show such as Swan Lake.A typical day for a dancer, says McRae, would begin about 10.30am with a daily class of over an hour which involves vigorous exercise, an afternoon rehearsing and then finishing around 10.30pm, after performing in a show such as Swan Lake.
McRae said: “Sometimes they’ll have to do that six days in a row, whereas an athlete would get a recovery day or have a ‘down day’ before they have to peak. That’s where I feel the dance world is still behind in terms of medical awareness. If a surgeon is on call for 24 hours, there’s a danger he’ll mess up. If a dancer is pushed to the limit, they will mess up.”McRae said: “Sometimes they’ll have to do that six days in a row, whereas an athlete would get a recovery day or have a ‘down day’ before they have to peak. That’s where I feel the dance world is still behind in terms of medical awareness. If a surgeon is on call for 24 hours, there’s a danger he’ll mess up. If a dancer is pushed to the limit, they will mess up.”
He added: “Technique is always improving, so you’re demanding more of yourself. And choreographers and coaches are demanding more. Having said that, there is more attention being paid to our health. So the medical side is catching up – slowly.”He added: “Technique is always improving, so you’re demanding more of yourself. And choreographers and coaches are demanding more. Having said that, there is more attention being paid to our health. So the medical side is catching up – slowly.”
He added that when he stepped on stage, he could forget the pain, sometimes with paracetamol. The daily class was crucial, he said, to putting everything back in alignment: “Some mornings I wake up and I feel 100 years old.”He added that when he stepped on stage, he could forget the pain, sometimes with paracetamol. The daily class was crucial, he said, to putting everything back in alignment: “Some mornings I wake up and I feel 100 years old.”
Of his Swan Lake, he said: “I’m the luckiest man in the dance world right now. I’m dancing with some of the best ballerinas in the world.” The cast includes Evgenia Obraztsova from the Bolshoi, and the Guardian review praised its “exceptional musical and physical rapport”.Of his Swan Lake, he said: “I’m the luckiest man in the dance world right now. I’m dancing with some of the best ballerinas in the world.” The cast includes Evgenia Obraztsova from the Bolshoi, and the Guardian review praised its “exceptional musical and physical rapport”.
But he is all too aware of the precarious nature of the profession. At 20, he tore his Achilles tendon and was told that not only would he never dance again but he would have an enduring limp: “I was living the dream. Then suddenly, it was all taken away from me. It messed with my head that the career is so fragile.”But he is all too aware of the precarious nature of the profession. At 20, he tore his Achilles tendon and was told that not only would he never dance again but he would have an enduring limp: “I was living the dream. Then suddenly, it was all taken away from me. It messed with my head that the career is so fragile.”
He found “a most incredible” Swedish surgeon and it took a year to recover, with physical and psychological rehabilitation, and studied for a BA Hons in business management and leadership.He found “a most incredible” Swedish surgeon and it took a year to recover, with physical and psychological rehabilitation, and studied for a BA Hons in business management and leadership.
“I thought, I love this profession way too much, and what happens if it does get taken away from me?”“I thought, I love this profession way too much, and what happens if it does get taken away from me?”
He says he would like to direct a company and give other dancers more opportunities than he has had. “I want to have the best health care. I want pregnant dancers to have amazing care when they come back, [with] a crèche.”He says he would like to direct a company and give other dancers more opportunities than he has had. “I want to have the best health care. I want pregnant dancers to have amazing care when they come back, [with] a crèche.”
Although he praised the Royal Ballet’s director Kevin O’Hare for “really looking after us dancers” and “trying to spread the work a bit more”, he believes that more recovery time should be introduced. As a principal, he can find himself rehearsing up to six ballets from noon to 6.30pm without a break.Although he praised the Royal Ballet’s director Kevin O’Hare for “really looking after us dancers” and “trying to spread the work a bit more”, he believes that more recovery time should be introduced. As a principal, he can find himself rehearsing up to six ballets from noon to 6.30pm without a break.
McRae, the son of a car electrician, grew up in Sydney and came to Britain in 2003, aged 17, receiving a scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet School. “Without that, there’s no way my parents could have afforded to send me to the other side of the world.”McRae, the son of a car electrician, grew up in Sydney and came to Britain in 2003, aged 17, receiving a scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet School. “Without that, there’s no way my parents could have afforded to send me to the other side of the world.”
He is married to Royal Ballet dancer Elizabeth Harrod, whom he met at the school. She was also “a great cook” and they ate normally, he said, likening the human body to “a good, expensive car. You put rubbish petrol in, the car’s not going to function properly.” The only difference is that he needs to eat about four hours before curtain rises – usually a chicken risotto – “the right amount of fuel without being heavy”.He is married to Royal Ballet dancer Elizabeth Harrod, whom he met at the school. She was also “a great cook” and they ate normally, he said, likening the human body to “a good, expensive car. You put rubbish petrol in, the car’s not going to function properly.” The only difference is that he needs to eat about four hours before curtain rises – usually a chicken risotto – “the right amount of fuel without being heavy”.
He is dismissive of reports of pressures on dancers to stay unnaturally thin. “If you are going to dance 12 hours a day, six days a week, you can’t be anorexic. You won’t function.”He is dismissive of reports of pressures on dancers to stay unnaturally thin. “If you are going to dance 12 hours a day, six days a week, you can’t be anorexic. You won’t function.”
Whether his three-month-old baby wants to follow in her parents’ footsteps remains to be seen. McRae said: “She can do whatever she wants. Obviously she’s going to see her mum dressed as a fairy and dad walking around with a crown on his head. She’s going to want to dress up. I hope that she does want a dance lesson.”Whether his three-month-old baby wants to follow in her parents’ footsteps remains to be seen. McRae said: “She can do whatever she wants. Obviously she’s going to see her mum dressed as a fairy and dad walking around with a crown on his head. She’s going to want to dress up. I hope that she does want a dance lesson.”
In 2002, McRae won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal, one of the dance world’s most prestigious prizes. This year, the Genée International Ballet Competition returns to London, with a new international bursary scheme to widen access. The Royal Academy of Dance will award up to 10 Genée bursaries, named after its president, Darcey Bussell, to international candidates in need of financial support. The final will be staged on 19 September at the Sadler’s Wells theatre in London.
• This article was amended on Sunday 22 March 2015 to add the final paragraph.