Principal Artist Kirsty Martin has performed countless leading roles, ranging from the titular Hollywood starlet of Raymonda, to the iconic Odette in Swan Lake. She walks down memory lane to cherry-pick a handful of her favourite ballets.
Giselle
Giselle is definitely one of my favourite ballets. It’s romantic and pure – a role I imagine every ballerina wants to experience. It’s very fulfilling because it’s technically demanding and there is so much to explore artistically. I love this ballet; a simply beautiful classic!
Manon
The lead in Manon is a fun and dramatic role, which I really enjoyed. There’s so much freedom in the choreography and so much depth to Manon’s character. It’s full of beauty, sensuality, drama and emotion. I thoroughly enjoy performing this ballet, and I think audiences love it, too. An entertaining epic!
Raymonda
The role of Raymonda was created on me, so I hold it close to my heart. The creative process was so much fun. Stephen Baynes has an amazing ability to create very unique characters, and his choreography always feels nice to dance. The sets and costumes are extremely glamorous and beautiful; I felt like I was in an old Hollywood movie in this ballet. And having Steven Heathcote and [Kirsty's husband] Damien Welch alongside me was, of course, an added bonus.
Velocity
Stanton Welch’s Velocity is a one-act ballet that I was involved in the creative process for. It’s a very exciting ballet, with lots of high-energy dancing, combined with controlled and lyrical movement. I really enjoyed doing his choreography; it was a lot of fun and a great challenge!
Swan Lake
Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake is a demanding ballet from beginning to end. Odette’s character is very complex and can always be explored further. I danced this role alongside Damien Welch, who has brilliant stage presence and always gives a lot of emotion to every role. He helped create some very memorable performances for me, even though we nearly killed each other in rehearsals!
Symphonie Fantastique
Symphonie Fantastique is just a really nice ballet to perform, with a lot of freedom in its expression and interpretation. I always enjoy doing contemporary pieces – it enables you to create unique, interesting movement.
hi kirsty im related to you. my name is kirsty maree unwin im thirteen and im part of your family. ive alwas wnted to meet u. xxo