Jonathan Mangosing, Hong Kong Ballet dancer tells KellyEngland.com about his dancers life...

PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Wong

When did you first start dancing?
When I was 10 years old in San Diego, I went to a dance school, it wasn’t a Dolly Dinkle (apparently a small, very local school) but not a huge ballet school either. Boys can start to train later than girls and still make it. I once had a principal that was 17 when he started and he became a professional ballet dancer by 20. He was exceptional though.

When did you decide that ballet would be you career?

When I was 17 years old it was a choice between that and becoming a doctor. I had the grades but just knew that I couldn't handle studying for that many years and sitting by a desk every day. I had so much energy and really just wanted to perform.

How did you feel when you first got accepted into a ballet Company?
Hmm, it’s difficult to think of the exact word...I guess “accomplished” would just about describe it. All that work had finally paid off. Before that I was studying, had a part time job at The GAP and dance training so I had a lot on my plate, I was just exhausted. It meant I could finally concentrate on ballet full time and travel the world!

What was the first ballet?

Glass Pieces in Covent Garden was my professional debut. I was so happy that day as I knew that I had made the right decision in choosing dance as my career. All the work I had put into my dream came true that day. We travelled to London and then Spain with a company of 60 dancers plus stage crew. It was huge.

Do dancers do their own hair and stage makeup?

It depends... if you are playing a character part then yes you often need a makeup artist. Although The Hong Kong Ballet have just been trained to do our own special effects makeup which is really cool. In any Company if they don’t like how you did your makeup then they will tell you immediately either in private or at worst on stage in front of everyone which can be pretty embarrassing - ha!

Describe your average day?

I head to the Star Ferry and walk over to the Cultural Centre. At 10 am sharp warm up class begins. We do bar work followed by floor work. Then at 1130 we get a 15 min break and I normally grab a banana to get some energy.1145am until 2pm is rehearsal time. Sometimes to help to remember complicated choreography we either film ourselves, or write notes. At 2pm its finally lunch - I am hungry! I either go to the Cultural Centre canteen or head to California Pizza Kitchen or City Super in Harbour City. At 3pm second round of rehearsals starts. By 6pm the day is over and I head home to my dog Wuffles.

Quickfire questions:
Pairs of dance shoes you get through in a year? 20
What brand do you wear? Sansha
Leather or cotton ballet shoes? Cotton
White or pink ballet shoes? Skin colour - they make your leg lines look better
Every day uniform? A seamless thong, designed to fit like a cup holder with trunks over the top

Comments to date: 1. This is page 1 of 1.


John Walpole Hong Kong	Posted at 9:27am on Friday, September 10th, 2010
Come see Jonathan's awesome new piece in the New Moon program! http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=413417876021&ref=mf PS Our super cute dog is called "Woofles".