Georgie was born in Surrey, England and started ballet at the age of 3. She then moved to California and trained at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy, until moving back to England at the age of 14 to begin her professional training at a vocational dance boarding school, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, where she studied for 5 years. During her training at Tring Park she had the opportunity to perform at Eve Pettinger’s Gala at the Britten theatre in London, and at The Swedish National Ballet School in their ‘Marleld’ performance in Gothenburg. In her final year at Tring, she took part in Encore Dance Company’s UK tour, made up of the graduating students, where she performed in Kenneth Macmillan’s ‘Elite Syncopations’, alongside other mixed repertoire.
Georgie is currently dancing in her 6th season as a company member with the San Diego Ballet. Some of her favourite ballets to perform in include The Jungle Book, Giselle, Javier Velasco’s ‘Homegrown’, and a pas de deux to Patsy Clean’s ‘I Fall to Pieces’.
Who influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?
One of my first ballet teachers, Miss Gayle Farley, really encouraged me to pursue ballet as a professional career. Gayle was a professional dancer with Ballet West and she always inspired me with her stories of dancing professionally. Her training and encouragement really inspired my love of ballet, and I am forever grateful to her for that.
What was the funniest episode(s) you’ve experienced in your career?
I have quite a few funny moments that have happened on stage, but one that will always stick with me is when I was performing a piece called ‘The Little Circus’, aged 11, and midway through the dance, my ballet slipper flew off and landed in the audience. I then had to complete the ballet wearing one shoe!
Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)?
I would love to share the stage with a former Royal Ballet Dancer, Zenaida Yanowsky, who danced with the Royal Ballet Company for 23 years. The role of the Queen of Hearts in the Royal Ballet’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was created on her and I had the opportunity to be taught the solo by her. Her performance qualities are truly inspiring, and the detail of acting out every step is something I would love to perform.
What goes through your mind just before you perform?
Just before I perform I like to clear my mind, and not think about the dance steps in the upcoming pieces. Instead I like to concentrate on finding happiness within myself, and staying very calm to prepare for the performance.
What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?
I love the variety of repertoire that the San Diego Ballet has to offer. From more contemporary and neo-classical pieces to very classical ballets, the San Diego Ballet has it all. I also really admire the high standard of the dancers and am inspired every day by the talent around me.