Honed to a fine pointe

Before she scrubs up for her photoshoot, it's hard to picture her stepping out in the quintessential classical starring role in Swan Lake. But that's just what she'll be doing tomorrow night as English National Ballet brings its acclaimed in-the-round production, now in its tenth year, to the Royal Albert Hall.

But Sylve, a Frenchwoman living in New York, is all about contradictions. A devoted classicist who eagerly tackles modern works, an extrovert with a daredevil love for skiing who also has a taste for delving inwards into spiritual research when she's not on stage, she delights in sending out mixed signals. If it wasn't such a ballet cliché, you could say it's what keeps her on her toes.

Currently a principal artist with New York City Ballet, she leapt at the chance of guesting with ENB, not least because the Royal Albert Hall run is followed by three performances in the historic gardens at France's royal palace of Versailles. For a woman whose career has been spent dancing in Germany, Holland and the US, it's a chance to show home fans what she can do.

'It's a wonderful opportunity, I couldn't turn it down,' she says. 'Swan Lake is the role every little girl dreams of dancing when she takes up ballet, so when Wayne [Eagling, ENB's artistic director] asked me, I didn't hesitate. The Albert Hall followed by Versailles. It doesn't get bigger than that.'

Sylve first worked with Eagling as a young dancer with Holland's National Ballet and he's no mean talent spotter. Sylve's brand of dynamic athleticism makes her a bold and magnetic presence on stage, essential in Derek Deane's spectacular version of Swan Lake for ENB, which floods the circular stage with more than 120 dancers including jugglers, acrobats and 60 swans, giving the audience a unique take on the action.

Sylve's style has been finely honed during her four years with NYCB, where her roles have included challenging works by modern masters such as Hans van Manen, Glen Tetley and William Forsythe. Yet though Sylve has flourished in such works, she is keenly aware that a ballerina is judged by her performance in classic roles. She feels comfortable with a career path that places one foot in the past, one in the future.

'I started my life practising pliés at the barre, it's bred in my bones. For me, ballet is the best way I have of connecting with the universe. I've remained sane - I think - because of it. If I take a break, I really miss it. It's like an addiction, a physical need.'

Swan Lake, 13 June until 24 June, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore SW7, Tue to Sat 7.30pm, Sat and Sun mats 2.30pm, £16 to £49.50 (limited availability).

Tel: 020 7589 8212. www.royalalberthall.com Tube: South Kensington/Knightsbridge