Q&A: Roberta Marquez
The Royal Ballet Principal answers your questions on roles, inspiration, and Brazilian cooking.
Before heading to Brazil with other artists of The Royal Ballet , we caught up with Principal Roberta Marquez to ask her your questions, submitted via Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
[<a href="//storify.com/royaloperahouse/q-and-a-roberta-marquez" target="_blank">View the story "Q&#038;A: Roberta Marquez" on Storify</a>]</p> <h1>Q&amp;A: Roberta Marquez</h1> <h2>The Royal Ballet Principal answers your questions on roles, inspiration and Brazilian cooking.</h2> <p>Storified by <a href=”http://storify.com/royaloperahouse”>Royal Opera House</a>&middot; Fri, Feb 15 2013 02:49:59</p> <div>@chloecjoly [Twitter]: What’s your favourite role to perform? Which role would you like to dance that you haven’t?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I love Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Bayadere – I became a Principal back in Brazil because of Bayadere!&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I would love to dance Mary Vetsera in #ROHmayerling&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@rmmotter [Instagram]: What music do you listen to away from the studio?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I like Brazilian music – bossanova. I love the really cool rhythms it has,particularly Antonio Carlos Jobim’s music&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@eaartist [Twitter]: What has been your most challenging role to date and why?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;Firebird. At first I thought the role didn’t suit me but then I worked hard and I got into it…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;…At first I didn’t believe I could do it. Practice makes perfect! It’s a great ballet- amazing music &amp; costumes!&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Valeri Hristov as Ivan Tsarevich and Roberta Marquez in The Firebird © Johan Persson/ROH 2009Royal Opera House Covent Garden</div> <div>@louisiella [Instagram]: What has been your favourite costume that you’ve worn at Covent Garden?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;Bayadere’s costumes are beautiful.Especially that first white dress that I get to wear! It’s so feminine &amp; gorgeous&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Ian Thomson [Facebook]: What do you do on a night off?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I rest and spend time with my husband. I also like going to the cinema and cooking with friends…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;In London, I like the area around Chiswick, it’s a lovely place to spend time – it’s so quiet after Covent Garden!&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@mspeachum [Instagram]: What does your diet consist of?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I try to be really healthy – a lot of protein, fruit and veg but I do love sweets and cakes in moderation…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;…When I cook my specialty is Brazilian beans – feijoada!&quot;#AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Stephen McRae as the Prince and Roberta Marquez as Cinderella in Cinderella. © ROH / Tristram Kenton 2010Royal Opera House Covent Garden</div> <div>@akikotyo [Twitter]: Who or what influenced you the most in becoming a professional dancer?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;When I was 8 I went to see Swan Lake at the Theatro Municipal. It fascinated me and was how I started.&quot;#AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;When I danced there, I put pressure on myself to dance my best there as my first experience of ballet was there&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;…I’m very much looking forward to going back there later this month&quot; #AskTheDancer RoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@chloehancock96: Was there ever a point where you hit a wall and considered stopping? If so, how did you get past it?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;In Brazil it’s not easy to be a ballerina, there was a point when I considered stopping but it didn’t last long…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;As soon as I got back on the stage,I remembered how much I loved it. It’s an amazing privilege to do what you love.&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@TheBalletBag: You’re such an inspiration to young dancers in Brazil. What do you think makes Brazilian ballet so characteristic?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;Our Latino personality is very strong. We dance many styles in Brazil which really helps.&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta Marquez and Thiago Soares in Giselle. © Johan PerssonRoyal Opera House Covent Garden</div> <div>Maxine Horne [Facebook]: Do you have any desire to choreograph? What do you think of the choreographic opportunities for women?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I’m not sure if I have the talent for it but one day I’ll try. You have to try to know if you have talent…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;…All the choreographers we work are really inspiring. Liam, Wayne and Christopher are great to work with…&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;I believe that if you have the talent, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female.&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <div>@livving_the_dancers_life [Instagram]: What advice do you have for aspiring dancers?</div> <div>Roberta: &quot;Work very hard and believe in your dreams, they just might come true!&quot; #AskTheDancerRoyalOperaHouse</div> <p>
After returning from Brazil, Roberta will dance La Bayadère and Symphony in C later this Season. Tickets for both ballets are still available.
3 April 2013
1 March 2013
11 February 2013
