Dancer tries out the surf

A VISITING ballerina who performed in The Nutcracker was all smiles yesterday after surfing at St Clair Beach — despite receiving a nasty knock to the nose.

Moscow Ballet La Classique dancer Anastasiia Chubykina (26) braved the cold and the wild surf at St Clair yesterday afternoon before her last performance in New Zealand.

Ms Chubykina, a member of the company for three years, said she surfed in every country she travelled to with the ballet.

She had learned in the Canary Islands, off Morocco, and had recently surfed on the Gold Coast in Australia while on tour there, she said.

She was struck by her board at St Clair, receiving cuts to her nose, but said she was ‘‘very happy’’ to have the chance to get into the water.

It was arranged by Fiona van Leeuwen, whose husband was production manager for the show.

Ms van Leeuwen said the

dancers were ‘‘very tough’’ and often danced while injured.

The Nutcracker opened in Australia on March 9, before coming to New Zealand this

month. Last night’s performance at the Regent Theatre was the company’s final one in Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Chubykina played a snow

flake and Mrs Stahlbaum, the mother of the girl who receives the nutcracker doll in the ballet.

PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH Surfing mishap . . . Moscow Ballet La Classique ballerina Anastasiia Chubykina took to the waves at St Clair before the troupe’s final New Zealand performance of The Nutcracker yesterday. Right: Unfortunately, the dancer received a blow to her nose.