Quickfire Questions – Juliet Doherty

Juliet Doherty talks pointe shoes, pilates and dispenses pirouette tips in our quickfire questions.

Team White Swan, Team Black Swan, Team Swanilda or Team Dying Swan?

I think I’m Team Black Swan. Definitely a dark side. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, but sometimes if I need a bit of grit in my dancing I’ll channel that.

Preferred pointe shoe brand?

Currently I wear Grishkos 2007. Grishko were actually my first pair of pointe shoes.

What’s a ballet exercise that you find particularly helpful?

I do the pilates set of 5 pretty religiously. It’s done in every pilates mat class. I learnt it a few years ago and now I do it everyday.

What’s a tip for finding your center during turns?

I think about my opposing shoulder coming around – the arm that’s following no leading. And I try to think of my shoulders over my hips and my arms reaching slightly forwards because I have a natural inclination to go backwards. So I try to think about going forwards and that helps me.

Photo: Luis Pons

 

If you could dance any male variation, what would it be, and who would partner you? 

Basilio from Don Quixote because it’s so well known. Cesar Corrales, he won the YAGP in 2014 with that variation, and at the end he finished with 8 double tours in a row. I think I’d go big and try to do it.

I would partner Natalia Osipova.

 If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Potatoes! I eat them almost every night for dinner and I think they would be pretty substantial to support my life. 

Where’s your favourite place to hang out in San Francisco?

I live really close to the city so on my day off I love to hang out in the parks and go down to the marina near the water. Just anywhere outside the city center and closer to nature; getting away from civilisation for a bit.

If you could be any person for one day, who would it be?

Oh gosh! This is a hard question! There are so many people – dancers, actresses and authors!

How about a top 3?

Okay! I think … Svetlana Zakharova, Jennifer Lawrence and Michael C Hall from Dexter.

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Follow Juliet Doherty on:
Instagram: @julietdoherty
Twitter: @julietdoherty