How does it feel to be nominated for the Emerging Dancer Award?
I was shocked to be nominated for the Emerging Dancer Award. I’m really honoured and flattered to have been nominated as I did not expect it. It is great for somebody to notice you.

What do you think the Emerging Dancer should be?
Erm, well I guess… it’s hard to tell, when you see people on stage they have this special quality when you just can’t take your eyes off them. I guess the emerging dancer is someone who stands out, something captures your attention and keeps you looking at them. When they do a principal part they can lead the whole performance. I really hope that I will be able to do it (lead) in the future, I don’t know how it will turn out, but it’s my dream.

Why do you think you have been nominated?
I have no idea, I don’t really know. I feel like when I’m on stage I perform better than when I’m in the rehearsal studio. I just really enjoy being on stage, it’s the excitement of giving something to the audience. Maybe something to do with what I did last season, I danced an Odalisque in Schéhérzade and in Spectre de la Rose, and the Cat in The Sleeping Beauty at the very beginning of the year. It’s quite different doing something solo, although doing The Rite of Spring was unbelievable, this feeling that I got inside when performing it, thrilling!

Do you know what you will be dancing at the Awards evening?
I’m not sure yet, but because I will be going home to Belarus soon I hope to pick up something from the repertoire there. I would prefer to do something different to the very classical style that is expected of me here. In school I was mainly doing lyrical roles and before I came to London I was doing roles like Kitri, more sparkly ones. Here I am normal height whereas in Belarus I was the smallest in my class, I did the cute roles, nobody could ever see me doing a swan. In my end of year performance at English National Ballet School I did the white swan with Junor (one of the other nominees), he was a really great partner. For this performence I'd like to show another side of my dancing.

Will you be dancing differently this Autumn knowing people may be voting for you?
I don’t know, I hope to keep improving each time I perform, maybe just giving that little bit extra.

What will you be dancing in Giselle this Autumn?
I am rehearsing and studying for the role of Giselle, but I don’t know if I will get chance to perform it but it’s great to just go to all of the rehearsals, fingers crossed! I will be dancing in the Corps de Ballet and performing the Peasant pas de deux with Max Westwell, he’s also a really good partner. I haven’t done a pas de deux for quite a while, so it’s nice to work with a partner and it’s such a lovely pas de deux.

What do you think you can learn from the other nominated dancers?
I remember when I came last year and watched all of them perform I was like ‘wow’. I really admire all the dancers, Crystal’s musicality almost gives me shivers when she gets it right on the note.

What do you do in preparation for a show?
I like to take my time, I like to have enough time to put make-up on and do a good warm-up. Sometimes I have new pointe shoes on and I’m not sure how it’s going to go, I get nervous about that or depending on the part I do. Most of the time I prefer to have dinner before the show, a proper meal quite early - around 5pm.

What makes English National Ballet special to work for?
The atmosphere is really nice, I was surprised to see how friendly everyone is - I guess touring together all the time must help, and everyone goes partying together. It is also great to have som many opportunities to perform. It might be tiring to have so many shows in a row, but I still enjoyed every single performance.

If you won the award what do you think you would do with the prize money?
Well I would probably give most of it to my family. I would feel un-describably happy if I won!