Nothing says Christmas quite like The Nutcracker ballet, and this week we’re over the moon to welcome Beatriz Stix-Brunell, a First Soloist at The Royal Ballet, to the show.  Beatriz is dancing in the iconic role of the Sugar Plum Fairy this winter, and we’re diving deep into the magical story of The Nutcracker, and why the ballet is just so enchanting, with her.  We also chat to Beatriz about the intense preparation she goes through for her work, as well as what it’s like to celebrate the festive season backstage at the Royal Opera House. Beatriz opens up about her early journey into ballet, her incredible career focus and the intricacies of being a dancer. Finally, we chat about one of our favourite shared hobbies. Can you guess what it is?! This is a magically festive episode which is a must-listen for all fans of the ballet and anyone who loves a big dose of inspiration.  EPISODE 45 SHOW NOTES Ella's blog - Coco's Tea Party Monica's blog - The Elgin Avenue Ella's Instagram account - @CocosTeaParty  Monica's Instagram account - @MonicaBeatrice Beatriz’s biography - Royal Opera House Beatriz’s Instagram account - @BStix-Brunell Beatriz will be performing in a leading role over the following dates at the Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker – Tuesday 1 January, 2pm The Two Pigeons- Saturday 19 January, 12 noon Romeo and Juliet- Monday 13 May, 7.30pm/Saturday 25 May, 1.30pm Beatriz will be in the cast of every performance for the above shows, but on the dates above Beatriz will be dancing in the lead role, should you wish to watch her. We recommend you do! All tickets and details can be found here: Royal Opera House events.