The softer side of San Francisco Ballet principal Lorena Feijóo

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a figure skater, but there was no chance, because in Cuba there is no ice!

Do you have any preperformance rituals or superstitions?

I don't ever practice anything [right before curtain]. If I practice something that I am nervous about and it doesn't work, I will go onstage with that feeling. I just want to go and do it in the moment.

What talent do you have that only a few people know about?

Cooking. I cook a lot of Cuban, but I do Italian too. And I never follow recipes. I just do my own thing, and it turns out okay. My boyfriend and my mom are very lucky to have a chef at home.

During SFB's opening night at Lincoln Center Festival it looked like you did about 40 fouettés-what were you thinking about at that moment?

The worst has now passed!

What is the best thing about having a sister who is also a ballerina?

The best thing is that she gets reviews that I get credit for! And because she's good, it's good for me.

What is the biggest misconception about you?

That I am really strong. But really I am very sensitive. People tend to think things won't bother me. When I was younger a lot of people thought I wasn't approachable because of how I come off onstage. But I'm very approachable, and people don't see my other side.

What character in a ballet is most like you in real life?

I have a lot of Kitri, but I also have a lot of Giselle. …