A Day in the Life: Ballet Dancer Ed Pearce

Pearce (center) with the BalletBoyz. Photo by Elliott Franks Photography Services

Ever wondered how people who eat, sleep, and breathe health spend their days? We did. So in this series, we’ll take you behind the scenes and show you a day in the life.

Ed Pearce, Professional Ballet Dancer

Fourteen days into 2016, ballet dancer Ed Pearce is staying true to his resolutions. We caught the 27-year-old London resident as his company, the all-male troupe BalletBoyz, trains for its first-ever appearance in Boston—and just after he resolved to become a vegetarian. “I’m not usually that good,” he says. “I’m trying to start the new year right.”

Here’s what a day in Pearce’s life looks like:

7:45 a.m.: Wake up and have a carrot, pear, and ginger smoothie for breakfast.

8:30 a.m.: Leave for a day of rehearsals.

10:00 a.m.: Ballet or contemporary class for an hour and a half. Today, it’s ballet to prepare for the company’s upcoming performances.

11:30: Break. Usually, he’ll have a banana and nuts to keep energy up.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Rehearsal, working through the repertoire for the show.

2 p.m.: Lunch, often a sandwich and fruit from a local supermarket. “It doesn’t sound like I eat very much,” he says, “but I promise you I do!”

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: More rehearsal.

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Most days, Pearce spends an hour cooling down and doing some strength training or yoga. “It strengthens you, but it’s also a nice chance to relax as well,” he says of yoga.

Evening: “Most evenings, if I don’t go to the gym, I just sit on the sofa and watch TV,” he says. Dinner typically involves eggs, vegetables, and brown rice or sweet potatoes.

11:30 p.m.: Bed time.

BalletBoyz will perform “The Murmuring” and “Mesmerics” at the Schubert Theatre on January 29 and 30. Tickets can be purchased here.