Although I now move between science and adventuring, ballet was my life from very early on. I’d train 5-6 hours/day at the Arts Conservatory (Lisbon) and at 19 moved to Amsterdam to be a professional ballet dancer. At 25 I was halted by injury and was able to focus on astrophysics!
Still, dance is present with me daily. My drive comes from the dance environment and the passion for life it instils in us. The posture and grace, paid for with sweat during strenuous years of ballet allow me today to move freely before an intimidating audience, sprinkled with Nobel prizes! The rigorous training gave me a unique knowledge of my body, which allows me to take on the mountains.
Dance is a lifelong legacy and a part of me, and everything I do.
