Ballet Victoria has spent the last six weeks gearing up for their next production, Alice in Wonderland, hitting the stage on May 17 and 18 at the Royal Theatre.

In between morning technique class and the Tea for Tutu production B次元官网网址� a dress rehearsal show where seniors are invited free of charge B次元官网网址� Black Press got a sneak peak at what life is like for two of the 12 company dancers.

Andrea Bayne, principal dancer and Alice in the latest show, has been dancing since she was three years old. Originally from Halifax, N.S., Bayne grew up in Moncton, N.B., where she discovered her love of ballet at an early age.

SheB次元官网网址檚 been with Ballet Victoria for 11 years and loves being able to wake up everyday and do what she loves despite the rigours and constant training.

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The 12 dancers train tirelessly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday with an hour-and-a-half technique class every morning.

Banye says that while the newest production isnB次元官网网址檛 quite finished yet, sheB次元官网网址檚 excited about the added challenge of learning the choreography in the week leading up to the show.

B次元官网网址淲e definitely have a lot to do in a short amount of time,B次元官网网址� she says, admitting that it makes her slightly nervous. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 also kind of exiting because it keeps it fresh and you really have to make sure youB次元官网网址檙e focused during the day.B次元官网网址�

Having been dancing for the majority of her life, Bayne finds it pretty easy to pick up new choreography but says it can be mentally draining to be keyed in for seven hours of the day.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 different if youB次元官网网址檙e learning old [moves] because you can sometimes be a little sidetracked, your body remembers the movement,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e learning a new ballet, every step is new, every facial expression is new and you need to be focused in rehearsal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.B次元官网网址�

In contrast to BayneB次元官网网址檚 years of experience, this is Tymin KeownB次元官网网址檚 first season with the ballet. After moving away for three years to attend the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, the Victoria native is glad to be back in his hometown doing what he loves.

Playing a caterpillar turned butterfly, KeownB次元官网网址檚 character is very curious about Alice, who eventually helps him through metamorphosis to spread his wings.

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B次元官网网址淢y favourite part of the show would be the pas de duex with Andrea,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very challenging but also rewarding when you do it well.B次元官网网址�

Keown started dancing when he was 15, which seems a little late in the dance world, but according to Bayne, men can get away with starting late as they donB次元官网网址檛 do as much point work.

B次元官网网址淚 think women and girls need to start a little early because of the point work, they need to have the strength in their feet to just be able to wear the shoes,B次元官网网址� he says.

Keown was dancing at Stages Performing Arts School in Victoria when Paul Destropper, Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 artistic director, came to teach a master class and mentioned the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School to him.

B次元官网网址淚 was like, B次元官网网址榊eah, OK, IB次元官网网址檒l think about it,B次元官网网址� and then I decided to go and that kept me on this journey,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淧aul definitely had an impact on my career that he probably didnB次元官网网址檛 think he did B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 even know if he remembers he did this.B次元官网网址�

The feeling Keown got while on stage is part of what hooked him.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 even know how to describe it but itB次元官网网址檚 almost like a feeling of not feeling, youB次元官网网址檙e just so in the moment and not thinking, youB次元官网网址檙e just out there,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭he best way to put it is pure enjoyment.B次元官网网址�

He knows that feeling wonB次元官网网址檛 always be around and so Keown tries to savour every moment of every production.

B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 a career that IB次元官网网址檒l get to dance on stage for the rest of my life,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got to enjoy every second I have out there.B次元官网网址�

For tickets to Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 latest production of Alice in Wonderland visit .