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Back in the days when Merle Park was a CBE — she became Dame Merle in 1986 — she left this interview with a British women's magazine. It makes interesting, and amusing, reading almost 40 years later.
Dame Merle Park will celebrate her 80th birthday on 8 October this year.
At times my energy has been at a very low ebb
I always have more energy in a hot climate than in a cool one, but that's probably because I was born in Rhodesia. Out there, as a child, I led a very energetic outdoor life, always climbing trees and riding my bike — good physical training probably for a dancer's life. But at times my energy has been at a very low ebb.
After I had my baby eight years ago, I felt so well and so happy that I went back to work far too soon. I was actually back on stage within five weeks of the birth and a year later it told on me. I became very anaemic, and finding any energy at all for anything, let alone dancing, was a great effort. So I took three months off, completely.
Since then I've realised that people who work as hard as dancers do physically, desperately need a complete resting holiday once a year — a whole month without any dancing at all.
“You should be dead!”
My most physically demanding role is La fille mal Gardée, when I dance almost non-stop for two hours. A doctor came round after one performance to measure pulse rates and after taking mine he shook his head in astonishment and said, “You should be dead!” After a performance when you should be dropping, you find you aren't because the elation is feeding you with energy. It can take hours to unwind to the point where sleep is possible.
I have six spoonfuls of sugar in my tea
I relax by listening to those boring phone-in radio programmes. I think I must get most of my energy from sugar… I have six spoonfuls in my tea and coffee. I try to follow a high-protein diet and be firm with myself.
Nerves can affect dancers in two ways. Some people get very keyed up and find more energy that way. I lose energy if I'm tense. So I have tried hard to eliminate worry, because it will only injure my performance. I must never say to myself, “Gosh I'll never make it,” but simply keep calm and wait until the time comes, and it's never as bad as you expect.

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
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Fascinating, and a very Happy Birthday to Dame Merle. The huge commitment and physical demands upon our lovely dancers may get different responses at different times but when it comes down to it, it will always be the most demanding of arts. We are so lucky that our dancers are prepared to give so much. Thank you Dame Merle!
Dame Merle Park probably does not know that I exist, but my sisters and I are the children of her cousin, Eric Erlank Smith. I enjoy watching youtube clips of her dancing, especially with Rudolf Nureyev.
If this is Eric Erlank Smith son of Eric Smith & Isabella Georgina Henrietta Geddie Anderson then I am his cousin and related to you.If yoy ever receive this will you please e.mail me at brianwh@iafrica.com thanks Brian Harrison Cape Town RSA.
It’s been a long long time since you and I used to give our little ballet concerts in one of the rooms in our house in Salisbury at the age of around 6/8 years of age!! Because of your brilliance, even at that age, the entire neighbourhood came to watch. I wonder if you remember? We were at both junior and senior school together in the same classes and best of friends until you departed for Elmhurst. I remember it all so well. I have only seen you once since then when my husband and I came to see you dance in London some 40 years ago, came backstage to see you and subsequently went out together a couple of times. We now live in Perth Australia. Great memories of wonderful times together and my congrats and admiration to you for all your wonderful achievements.