Food for thought

Then take heed of her own words of wisdom.

The star of Dance Bites, the next production from the Royal Ballet being staged at Blackpool's Grand Theatre, has brought out her first book - The Vitality Plan - which has already made the bestsellers list.

In it, she tells how eating sensibly and following an exercise routine will make you feel so much fitter - and she can vouch for every word, having herself fought the battle between keeping the lean shape of a ballet dancer and having enough energy to do the job.

"It's an antidote to diet books," she told the Citizen.

"I got so fed up with books which sell weird and quirky ideas and don't get you anywhere.

"I had a love-hate relationship with food and never really understood much about nutrition.

"When I did find someone to explain it to me, it was all so obvious.

"I thought it was information worth sharing.

"I am not a hypocrite and wouldn't put my name to anything I didn't believe in."

Anyone who wants proof that the advice can work only has to see Deborah in action.

The slender 34-year-old has enough energy to dance her way through countless tours with the Royal Ballet, teach youngsters at the Royal Ballet School where she herself was once a pupil, lecture on the arts and even write articles for several national newspapers and dance magazines.

Fylde fans can see her at the Grand from February 26-28 in Dance Bites.

She says of the production: "You can expect some really good dancing and a lot of fun. A lively programme with some new choreography, some slightly older.

"It's a good chance to see the Royal Ballet, which has some of the best dancers in the country, close-up in a smaller place."

And she urges everyone to give it a try.

"People's perception of the arts and their experience of it are miles apart," she said.

"The only way to find out for yourself is to go and watch and then make your own mind up."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.