AS A curious seven-year-old, Leigh Alderson surprised his mother by asking her if he could go to ballet dancing classes. She obliged by enrolling him in a summer scheme at Donna Whitten School of Dance in his home town of Portadown.
Although his mum thought he would soon outgrow his new-found fascination, Leigh's natural talent was soon spotted and he went on to dance his way around the world.
Now aged 30, after 11 years as a professional Leigh is returning to dance on home turf, making his debut with Ballet Ireland, in its contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.
I take Leigh back to his love affair with ballet – he tells me he doesn't know why he asked to dance, but that he doesn't regret a minute of it.
"It's rare for boys to take up ballet dancing. But I knew it was what I needed to do," he says.
At the age of just 11 Leigh won a full-time place at London's prestigious Royal Ballet School, where he studied for eight years. Then, after starting his career with Scottish Ballet, he went on to dance professionally with The Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada and Les Grands Ballets Canadien.
He admits that 22 years of dancing have taken a toll on his body.
"We dance because for the love and fulfilment it gives, but with that comes the painstaking hours of hard, hard graft and constant strain on the body. I'm 30 now and am really feeling the difference. I used to rock up to class when I first turned professional at 19, now I need 30-45 minutes of stretching and Pilates."
His worst injury was compressed discs in his neck, which required steroid injections and six months' rest.
And he admits his chosen profession can take a psychological toll too: "Living in front of a mirror is mentally exhausting, as we constantly strive for perfection. Though the incredible feeling you have on stage is worth it."
Having taken the decision to relocate back to this side of the Atlantic, Leigh is delighted to be dancing with Ballet Ireland in its latest production, which choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple, one of Europe's leading female choreographers.
Complete with Prokofiev's stunning music, Shakespeare's most famous tragedy is transported from the streets of medieval Verona into the classrooms of a modern-day high school, the drama unfolding as a play within a play, enacted by students and staff.
"Once you've done all the classics you want to stretch yourself, develop and do something different. I find these fresh retelling of classic stories so exciting at this point in my career. It's so playful and is sure to keep audience members engaged," says Leigh, who plays the role of Lord Capulet.
In the new year the dancer will be among the all-male cast of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake in London. And looking ahead to the future, he is making plans beyond performing.
"I love acting and I'd love to delve into that a little more. When I was in Canada I had time off in the summer and was able to shoot a short horror movie, Undress Me, which is doing the festival rounds at the minute."
He has also set up the Alderson Ballet Theatre, a pre-professional ballet company aiming to support young dancers aged eight to 18 in Northern Ireland, and has just finished auditioning dancers for a new production next year.
His advice to aspiring young dancers – male or female– is to "stay focused and ambitious", but also to "ensure life and work is fun". And when the inevitable audition knock backs come, he says "if things aren't going your way, don't alter the goal entirely, just alter the way you are approaching it".
So, does he have any regrets about having been too old to star in Billy Elliot in the West End?
"Absolutely not. Musical theatre is not really my thing and I could have done without all the Billy Elliot comparisons throughout my career," he laughs.
:: Ballet Ireland's production of Romeo & Juliet will visit Riverside Theatre, Coleraine on November 7; Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey, November 8; Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown, November 11; and Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, November 24. For more details and booking see Balletireland.ie
