Inside London City Ballet with Principal Dancer Constance Devernay
I recently conducted an online interview with Constance Devernay, principal dancer with the London City Ballet, currently in the midst of rehearsals ahead of the company’s upcoming tour. Constance shared insightful reflections on her experience working under the artistic direction of Chris Marney, praising his collaborative approach with the dancers. She emphasised how Chris' leadership style fosters a creative environment where the dancers' strengths and artistic voices are taken into consideration, particularly in the choice of repertoire.
She also spoke about the unique experience of dancing with a smaller company like London City Ballet compared to larger institutions. According to Constance, the more intimate scale of the company allows for deeper artistic exploration and closer connections between dancers, which she finds profoundly rewarding.
Beyond the stage, Constance stars in Étoile, Prime Video’s new ballet dramedy filmed in Paris and New York. She described the stark contrast between performing for the camera and dancing live on stage, highlighting how the series gave her a new perspective on her craft and opened her up to new forms of expression through the lens of television.
In addition to her work with London City Ballet and on screen, Constance is a regular performer with Ballet Nights, an innovative project that brings ballet into intimate settings, allowing audiences to experience the art form up close. She spoke passionately about the value of this initiative in breaking down barriers and making ballet more accessible to a wider audience.