I get to the theatre in plenty of time; I prepare my shoes in advance; I eat and drink the right things at the right time. The rest you have to leave to luck!

Dancing is a tough career, but I'm glad I spent it at the Royal Ballet.

I've always believed that the facts about dancing are more interesting than the myths, and this was a great chance for me to explore how the human body does such incredible things.

You can't reduce lactic acid, but you can increase your tolerance to it. I do this through running or cycling, but it's a good idea to match your training bout to the type of dance you do.

I enjoy the freedom of modern dance as well as the constraints of classical dance.

But you do have to start young as a dancer if you're going to achieve the physical skills necessary.

I always recommend a sensible diet, including lots of carbohydrates and avoiding too much fat. Dancers don't need different fuel from other people - they just need more of it because they use more energy.