Imperfect Pointes - sustainable ballet goodness with Hannah Bateman

In this episode Hannah talks to newly crowned Principal of the Royal Ballet and Imperfect Pointes Ambassador Mayara Magri. They touch on Mayara's steps towards the Covent Garden stage from her early years of training in Brazil, her Prix de Lausanne experience and gold medal win, becoming a Principal, working with Mats Ek and designing her first sustainable leotard in collaboration with Imperfect Pointes. Mayara is a passionate believer in minimising her impact on the environment and maximum her impact on the stage, she is warm, compassionate and an artist with charisma and joy in her soul. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, head over to the Imperfect Pointes website to see Mayara's design.

Mayara Magri - Brazilian dancer Mayara is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. She trained at The Royal Ballet School and graduated into the Company in 2012. She was promoted to First Artist in 2015, to Soloist in 2016, to First Soloist in 2018 and Principal in 2021. Magri grew up in Brazil and won a scholarship at the age of eight to train at the P‘etite Danse School in Rio di Janeiro. She won the Senior Age Division of the Youth America Grand Prix and the Prix de Lausanne Scholarship and Audience Prize in 2011. Mayara joined Imperfect Pointes as their Pro Dancer Ambassador in 2021.

Hannah Bateman - Hannah joined Imperfect Pointes in 2021 after retiring from the stage after 19 years as a professional ballet dancer. A former Principal Soloist Hannah danced extensively with Northern Ballet, created numerous roles for choreographer such as Cathy Marston, Kenneth Tindall and David Nixon and won much critcal acclaim for her performance in Hans Van Manens Concertante. Hannah also runs The Ballet Retreat, a  company delivering 1, 2 & 3 day Ballet Retreats for adult ballet dancers, offering world class training in professional settings for ballet enthusiasts.

Imperfect Pointes - Imperfect Pointes launched in 2020, Helen the Brand owner and Director created the company because she was frustrated by the lack of sustainable options on the market. Helen strives for sustainability in all areas of the business from the recycled materials used in production, to her ethical approach towards the manufacturing of every item that the company produces. Imperfect Pointes produces sustainable stylish ballet wear, designed and made in Britain. We live in an imperfect world and our bodies are imperfect too. Dance stylish with a clear conscience. Ballet is not just about men in tights, pink tutus and having the neatest bun. 

www.imperfectpointes.com