What's in my dressing room? – Royal Ballet soloist Olivia Cowley

Olivia Cowley trained at The Royal Ballet Upper School and became a soloist with the Royal Ballet in 2013. She has performed in Raven Girl, Carbon Life and Acis and Galatea. She is currently appearing in La Fille mal gardée.

Olivia took us backstage at the Royal Opera House and showed us what she has in her dressing room.

The Sewing Kit

OC: "When I'm not rehearsing during the day I like to sit on my place and sew my shoes. It's my sewing station. We get through so many in a season that it's pretty crucial to do. I also use this time to rehearse choreography in my head."

The Photographs

OC: "I used to have a lot of photographs up on my mirror but I've now whittled it down to three very personal photos and a special card from a bunch of flowers after I achieved a very challenging show!"

The Shoes

OC: "I like to hang my pointe shoes where I can see them clearly. Every pair of shoes are different and they each have their own role to play. I like to swap shoes in-between acts.

"I like to keep my area nice and tidy before a show. As the Royal Ballet is a rep company we can be performing in several ballets at once, so depending on which show we are doing they can get very chaotic with a mix of costumes, jewellery, head pieces and shoes. A tidy place helps to keep a sense of order."

The Food

OC: "I like to bring my own food in for dinner before a show, but I like to put it on a proper plate rather that eating from Tupperware. I drink a pint of fluid, either squash or water to wash it down – gotta keep hydrated and drinking from a pint glass does make me drink more!"

The Buddhas

OC: "On the corner of my dressing table I have my mini sanctuary. Two Buddhas; one that nods, the other that eats coins, my velvet reindeer, Fred, that I hang my jewellery on and my mini palm tree. An oasis of calm."

The Perfumes

OC: "Smelling good is crucial when you are dancing so close with other dancers. I like to mix up my perfume, and am always swapping and changing dependent on my mood. I also have a huge tin of hairbrushes. Five hairbrushes and two combs to be exact and for some hairstyles I need them all!"

The Office

OC: "I also use my dressing room as an office. When I have a spare half hour during the day, I quickly work on my website and answer emails. It's great for me to step away for a moment and think like a businesswoman, on a project that's purely my doing. I'm really enjoying this extra job!"

Olivia Cowley is currently appearing in La Fille mal gardée at the Royal Opera House until 22 October.