It’s the dream of many little girls to one day grow up and become a ballerina, so admired are the professionals for their grace, poise and talent. For the vast majority though, the fantasy is merely that and real life intrudes on the dreams. For a select few, however, sheer hard work and determination, coupled with natural talent, means a life on stage awaits.

Lauren Cuthbertson is one such woman. A principal ballerina for The Royal Ballet in London, her star shone brightly from a young age. As a child, she was one of the youngest dancers ever to join a British ballet company, and since 2008 she has been a principal ballerina. Lauren has also received the Arts and Culture Woman of the Future Award and the Outstanding Female Artist Award at The Critics National Dance Awards, and has won a silver medal at the International Ballet Competition, where she represented Great Britain.

It’s not all been success after success for the dancer though. After spraining her foot and getting glandular fever followed by postviral fatigue syndrome, which left her weak, in pain and unable to leave her home, Lauren fought her way back to principal dancer after a gruelling 18-month-recovery.

Following her triumphant return to the stage in Cinderella and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lauren has now taken on a new role.

Lauren is one of eight value ambassadors for PANDORA’s new Essence Collection, which launches in November 2013. With a new bracelet and charms that represent key life values, including love, passion, wisdom, confidence, joy, trust, faith and courage, the Essence Collection gives women the opportunity to create unique bracelets that represent their inner values. Lauren was chosen to represent confidence. 

To mark the appointment, Lauren spoke about examples of moments in her own life where that performer’s confidence was key. “When I was seven years old, I won a ballet competition. Halfway through my performance, the music stopped,” she said. Lauren completed her performance in a silent room, but did not falter. “This was the first time I remember feeling really confident,” says Lauren. “When you are on stage, you need to have a lot of confidence. You should not question or doubt yourself. Confidence is really a huge part of our career as ballet dancers from an early age. It’s gained from hard work and comes from deep within and from learning the craft.” 

As a Gemini, Lauren believes she benefits from her natural ability to play different roles in her work and social life. “I think my essence is my dual personality,” the ballerina says. “It makes me feel that I am allowed to be two different people in my work life and social life. I like putting my head into a project and fulfilling it. In my career, I have been able to use that to my advantage to succeed and reach goals and targets that I’ve set for myself. On the other hand, I really enjoy letting my hair down, taking the blinkers off, and taking the world in. I think it’s an attribute. I feel proud to be a Gemini.” 

Of course as an ambassador for a jewellery brand, Lauren’s style is a subject of interest too. “It’s nice to cleanse your face and become natural at home”, Lauren says, as she wears a lot of stage makeup while at work. “I always wear a scarf – preferably cashmere – at home, and special Japanese shoes to protect my feet. I let down my hair and hang out in jogging bottoms, warm woollies and lots of layers. On the other hand, when I’m going out, I really enjoy looking ravishing – like a ballerina, in gorgeous vintage dresses and with my hair up.”  

And if she needs a pick me up, she simply looks at her newly adorned wrist...

“I love the Essence Collection’s confidence charm from PANDORA because I think that, now and again, it’s nice to get a reminder – to look down at a charm on your wrist and get a tiny little pick-me-up during the day, especially if I lose confidence,” Lauren says.   

“Confidence is really a huge part of our career as ballet dancers from an early age. It’s gained from hard work and comes from deep within, and from learning the craft.”

 

The PANDORA Essence Collection launches next month.