Ballerina Pauli Magierek Pirouettes from Work to Play

By Jane Sung
June 2, 2011

Last week's interview with Hee Seo, a soloist with the American Ballet Theater who also appeared in a recent Banana Republic fashion ad, inspired us to turn to another top ballerina who scores high marks for her enviable dance skills and for her chic personal style: San Francisco Ballet soloist Pauli Magierek.

Pauli Magierek

Pauli Magierek in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. (photo by Erik Tomasson)

Growing up in Chicago, Pauli Magierek harbored dreams of gracing the silver screen, not the barre-lined studio: "Ballet was more of a hobby," she told us. "Even though I was pursuing both ballet and acting at my performing arts high school, I was more interested in becoming an actress." It was only after she attended various ballet summer programs as a teenager that she began to consider a career in dance.

After dancing with the American Ballet Theater Studio Company in New York, she moved to San Francisco, where she started as an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet and joined the corps de ballet in 1998. In 2008, she was promoted to soloist.

But it's not all work and no play for this ballerina. "I'm kind of obsessed with cooking—always have been," professional ballerina Pauli Magierek said. Given the aesthetic expectations in her line of work, one wouldn't expect her to have a voracious appetite. Yet she declares enthusiastically, "My favorite food to eat is baby back barbecue ribs, and my favorite dish to cook is probably steak."

We chatted with Pauli Magierek, who most recently performed in The Little Mermaid, based on the original Hans Christian Andersen story, about work and play.

The Inside Source: What are the roles and ballets you've enjoyed dancing in the most?

Pauli Magierek: One of my favorite roles has been William Forsythe’s Artifact Suite, which was hard, intense, fun dancing for almost 45 minutes straight! It made me feel amazing and accomplished as a dancer. Also, I danced the part of the Bearded Lady in Lew Christensen’s Jinx and Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, which was some of the most dramatic acting I've gotten to do on stage.

above: Pauli Magierek (photo by Chris Hardy)

The Inside Source: You've traveled a lot as a ballerina. What are some of your favorite places you've been to?

Pauli Magierek: Greece and Italy, which have amazing people and food, and Barcelona for its shopping.

The Inside Source: Do you have any travel accessories that you can’t go anywhere without?

Pauli Magierek: While flying, I always need a lumbar support pillow; otherwise, my back kills me! I also can’t travel without my Sonicare toothbrush (my teeth don't feel clean otherwise) and a journal, and I never leave home without a good pair of sneakers for exploring!

The Inside Source: You mentioned that you love to cook. What are some of your culinary essentials?

Pauli Magierek: I can’t cook without good pots and pans, as well as a sharp chef's knife. I'm addicted to the Food Network, and I love Bon Appetit magazine. My go-to cookbooks are by Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) and Nigella Lawson.

The Inside Source: What else do you like to do when you’re not dancing in the San Francisco Ballet?

Pauli Magierek: I like to go for long walks to clear my mind and take in the beauty of San Francisco. I love shopping, but wish I was rich enough to buy everything I see! Fashion is another hobby I've always had. I love putting together outfits. I also like discovering new music, reading books—I just finished reading The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan—and playing my The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Galaxy on my Wii.

left: Pauli Magierek in Elo's Double Evil. (photo by Erik Tomasson)

The Inside Source: How would you describe your personal style?

Pauli Magierek: I love to be different, so my style changes from day to day. I guess "unique" and "unpredictable" would be ways to describe my style.

The Inside Source: Who are your top fashion designers?

Pauli Magierek: I always look at everything, and whatever catches my liking at that particular moment is what I consider my favorite. Right now I see looks from Rodarte and YSL that I absolutely love. I just bought a pair of sky-high platforms from Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony that are super cute. What I really like is going into a boutique and buying from an unknown local designer who maybe has one batch of a certain fabric that they use for a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing. Also, I have a lot of clothes that were my mom's, and those always get the most compliments!

The Inside Source: Do you have any beauty tips?

Pauli Magierek: I'm pretty strict about my beauty regimen. I feel it is very important! In the morning, I do a light face wash, P50W toner by Biologique Recherche, Phloretin CF by SkinCeuticals, moisturizer, eye cream, and SkinCeuticals sunscreen. At night, face wash, Retin-a micro, NeoCutis Bio-Cream, a heavier night cream and eye cream. I never go to bed without washing off make-up and moisturizing. Right now, I'm using the Sponge line from Greece for my face creams. I'm not as obsessed with make-up, although I do like Diorshow and YSL mascara and the Shu Uemura curler. For hair products, I’m partial to Oribe and Kerastase.

right: Pauli Magierek rehearses Jenkins' Thread. (photo by Erik Tomasson)

The Inside Source: Are you obsessed with any high tech gadgets?

Pauli Magierek: I'm obsessed with my iPhone 4!! My favorite apps are Hipstamatic and Shazam.

The Inside Source: Where do you like to shop?

Pauli Magierek: I like to shop in small boutiques and vintage stores in Hayes Valley and the Mission in San Francisco, but my favorite department store is definitely Barneys. I do a lot of online shopping, but it is hard to always get it right and not be disappointed. I can always count on Shopbop, Beautyhabit, and eBay.

The Inside Source: What do you like to shop for on eBay online auctions?

I shop on eBay for my beauty products and any electronics. I bought my Wii on eBay, as well as my Sonicare toothbrush and Clairsonic brush. I used to look for clothes and shoes, but not so much anymore, although my most memorable eBay purchase was my first, a Louis Vuitton bag.

Here are Pauli’s favorite eBay finds:

New Black Nintendo Wii System

"I bought my Wii on eBay," says Magierek, who enjoys playing The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Galaxy in her downtime.
Clarisonic Pro Skin Cleansing System

"I'm pretty strict about my beauty regimen," says Magierek, who bought her Clarisonic skin cleansing brush on eBay.
Sonicare Toothbrush

She also shopped eBay for her Sonicare toothbrush. She considers it an essential, even for travel.
Kerastase Bain Satin

Magierek is partial to Kerastase for hair.
Dior Diorshow Mascara

Though Magierek says she's not nearly as obsessed with makeup as she is with skincare products, she does have a preference for Dior's Diorshow mascara.