The cheek of it all
By Tracey Lawson for The Scotsman

The Irimia twins were popular pupils, but their style was hardly that of the typical Romanian ballet protégés. Dyed red hair, heavy make-up and exposed midriffs sat incongruously with their roles in Swan Lake and Copelia.

The teachers at the Octavian Stroia Lycee for Choreography and Dramatic Art wondered if the world of ballet was truly where their future lay. "They were provocative - cheeky you might say," recalls Rodica Istrate, who taught ballet to Gabriela and Monica Irimia at the world-renowned school in the Transylvanian capital of Cluj-Napoca.

"High heels, low-cut blouses, bellies bare. One day the principal teacher sent them home because they had dyed their hair. Another time they had to wash their faces because they had too much make-up on.

"Monica and Gabriela always said they wanted fame. They were very nice girls - but I think that every action they did was designed to make them famous, wherever they were."

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