Interview: Alexandra Pickford, ‘Bluffing Your Way In Ballet’

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Alexandra Pickford about the piece, Bluffing Your Way In Ballet.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far..

At seventy-five years of age there's rather a lot to tell. I've danced with The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and internationally for 21 years. I came into my own in my thirties, finally dancing principal roles after clawing my way up!! My vocation gave me up at age 40 and after a spell in the fitness industry, retirement and environmental volunteering, life became boring meetings. (Our mature dancers and actors travel to Edinburgh by train, I insisted). I returned to the theatre at 65. Not dancing enough performances, I decided to create more opportunities with my own dancing and acting company, Seizing The Day.

What's the Show about?

Bluffing Your Way In Ballet is about showing the richness of my ballet dancing repertoire and revealing the history that enhanced it through our dancers and actors.

What was the Inspiration for Bluffing Your Way In Ballet?

It was the idea of sharing my dance career and how ballet history enhanced it that became important to me. Some people are fascinated by the the real world of ballet and Bluffing Your Way in Ballet answers some of those questions.

What has the development process been to get to this stage.

Don't ask! On exposing the idea of Bluffing Your Way In Ballet to my company they told me in no uncertain terms that it wouldn't work. I cried after initial rehearsals, it was so frustrating. Gradually together we created a show that's sold out in 3 theatres in Bristol. At present we're Shortening the show for Edinburgh and it's gonna be great!

What made me want to take Bluffing Your Way In Ballet to the Fringe?

I'm really looking forward to performing in Edinburgh but I made the mistake of asking the company of dancers and actors, if they wanted to take Bluffing Your Way In Ballet to Edinburgh. They said yes, and my heart sank because of this challenge. But we are on our way. Perhaps it's because I'm childless that I decided to indulge them in this endeavor?

Apart from seeing your show, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

Apart from seeing Bluffing Your Way In Ballet would be, taking a break at Fringe Central, Grass Market Centre, for

rest and recuperation away from the "madding crowd" in Edinburgh.

Why should people book for Bluffing Your Way In Ballet?

To escape bad, fake and distressing news. Enter the magical world of Ballet, for a romp through ageing ballerina Alexandra's ballet world past and present.

When and where to see Bluffing Your Way In Ballet?

9th 10th August (not 11th) 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th August At: The Space @ Venue 45. 3.05pm.