The importance of the arts to the societies in which they thrive is well documented.

In my life, there have always been people who guided my path, towards the school, towards this company. I didn't know about any of it. I didn't have a plan. It's good fortune and generosity from other people that have given me all I have today.

I regret that I didn't enjoy it all more. I didn't savour it until the end because I was so hard on myself. Life goes by so quickly. A dancer's career goes by so quickly. You've got to enjoy those moments when you know you've done your best.

You're terrified that nothing will ever give you the fulfillment that dancing has given you.

To be able to make decisions and see them come to fruition and feel the excitement around them, what it generates within the company, how the artists get motivated — that's the most rewarding part; feeling I can be a catalyst for an artistic experience for our artists and for the public.

Like everyone else, I want to go on dancing forever, but I know the day is going to come when I will have to be doing something else.

Friday night is our date night. We really carve out time for each other.