Krista Degaetano set up Contemporary Dance Dubai (CDD) after being in the dance and theatre business for 16 years in Malta and the UK. The 31-year-old Maltese dancer, who moved to the UK in 2009 and now lives in The Greens, started dancing at the age of three.
7.30am
My alarm usually goes off at this time and I ignore it to enjoy another 30 minutes of rest before my second alarm goes off at 8am. On days that I finish at 10pm at night, I allow this process to go on until at least 9am. I love the feeling of being able to have that 30 minutes more tucked in bed before my very hectic day begins.
8.30am
I make myself breakfast, which usually consists of fresh yoghurt, banana or berries, granola and a dash of honey. I sit outside on the balcony to eat this, as I love hearing the sound of the birds and just being outside in general at this time of day. As soon as I finish I see what emails I have received and check my schedule. Once the day ahead is clear in my mind I get my three or four bags out to start preparing clothes, training gear, notebooks and dance stuff.
9.30am-1pm
This is when I have personal training sessions with my clients at their respective gyms. I have been personal training alongside my dance career for the last four years. It’s another one of my huge passions and I love getting into a gym with a client and seeing their bodies getting fitter, stronger and leaner. I train back-to-back clients during this time so I have to rush from one location to the next, hence my numerous amounts of bags and gear. The inside of my car looks like a gym and a wardrobe with all sorts of weights, bands and clothes.
I also have some ballet and contemporary private sessions with various clients during this time.
1pm
I dash home to make a quick bite for lunch. This cannot be too heavy as even though it’s 1pm and I have been very busy, the real physicality is still about to start. My lunch usually consists of healthy carbs, vegetables and protein. I eat quite a bit of protein as this fills me but does not bloat me. I also need it to build muscle since my days are very physically demanding. I also have two small blocks of dark chocolate for a little boost and head out.
2pm
If studio rehearsals are not starting early, I usually go to the gym for an hour. I absolutely love going to the gym. If rehearsals start early, I try to do an hour of training in the morning or go for a 45-minute length-training swim.
2:30-5.30pm
Rehearsals begin. This is where I create dance material for events, shows, workshops or classes with my team. If we are doing a show, rehearsals are hugely physical, intense and mentally demanding, as my role as choreographer and performer requires me to be in control of most aspects of the created pieces. I love rehearsal time, especially when we are close to show time and we know all the pieces so we run them one after the other; as a dancer, this is when you really begin to enjoy movement. The more you dance a piece, the more you feel it and the more you enjoy it.
6pm
I teach CDD evening classes. My company, which has been open for three-and-a-half years, teaches contemporary technique, ballet, fitness and Dance Yogalates to students of all ages and levels. I love seeing my students develop as dancers and artists. Some have even been accepted into dance universities abroad after my training.
10pm
This is when I arrive home, I don’t have much energy left and I know I have to get to bed early to be able to manage another one of my busy days, so I make a healthy dinner, sit down to watch a comedy and before you know it, I’m almost asleep on the sofa. I love my days. They’re busy, hectic, full of various aspects of everything I love to do: dance, train, personal train, instruct, choreograph and create shows. It has been such hard work to get my business to where it is today since the dance scene is still developing here in Dubai. At the end of each day, although I feel so tired, I feel content and proud and ready for bed at 11.30pm.
business@thenational.ae
