Kate Rouzer has filled a lot of roles. Since joining St. Louis Ballet in 2009, she’s played Cinderella, the Black Swan (her personal favorite), Kitri in Don Quixote, The Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, and the lead in Western Symphony. This upcoming season, she will also play Aurora in the company’s production of Sleeping Beauty.
Before joining St. Louis Ballet, Rouzer danced for BalletForte, Orlando Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. “I love characterization and being able to put a hat on and take it off. I get to do things I wouldn’t normally get to do in real life with ballet,” she says.
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To dance every day, Rouzer needs quite the assemblage of tools. Here’s what she keeps on hand:
1. Headphones. Between pliés and pirouettes, Rouzer enjoys escaping the studio with literature. “I listen, especially in the theater, to zone out. I love historical fiction and sci-fi. Susanna Kearsley and Neil Gaiman are currently my favorites.”
2. Coffee. Rouzer likes to start off her day with bulletproof coffee, a popular black brew among athletes. This strong cup of joe is blended with grass-fed butter and Brain Octane Oil and is intended to boost cognitive performance and sustain energy.
3. Shoes. What’s a ballerina without her pointe shoes? “I always have extra ribbon and elastic too,” she says. “I can destroy a pair of shoes in one day of rehearsal.” Rouzer rotates through six to nine pairs at a time. Toe tape, gel pads, and a small exacto knife stay tucked inside her bag to help prepare her shoes and feet for a challenging sequence, such as the Rose Adagio in the first act of Sleeping Beauty.
4. TheraBands. In order to stay warm between rehearsals, Rouzer uses TheraBands to strengthen muscles in her ankles and feet. TheraBands can be used as a tool for injury recovery. Rouzer also likes to keep a tennis ball in her bag for relieving muscle tension, especially in the lower back.
5. Deep Blue. To cool down after a long day of training, Rouzer uses Deep Blue, a topical cream mixed with essential oils and natural plant extracts that helps soothe aching muscles.
6. Bobby Pins and Mascara. Rouzer takes her beauty routine on the go most days as she hurries to keep up with her busy schedule. When she’s not rehearsing or performing, you can find Rouzer upside down at The Upper Limits Rock Climbing Gym in Chesterfield where she teaches AntiGravity Fitness. “Think Pilates, TRX, and an ab workout put together.”
7. Passport. Rouzer’s love for travel and exploring new cultures has led her to trot—or “chasse”—around the globe to places like Istanbul and Athens. Amsterdam is one of her favorite travel destinations, and Scotland is next on the bucket list.
Reserve a ticket online for this year’s production of Sleeping Beauty by St. Louis Ballet, directed by Gen Horiuchi, starring Kate Rouzer as Aurora. April 7–9.
