As the Royal Ballet’s newly minted principal, the dancer is on a mission to challenge the industry’s underlying racism from the inside. He discusses his first steps – and the role of his dreams

I used to be really apologetic, like, I’m sorry for breathing, for being here, shall I go in the corner … ” says Joseph Sissens, acting flustered and describing himself as a young dancer when he first joined the Royal Ballet. But over the last eight years, the change has been dramatic. Now, he says, “this weird animal has kind of come out on stage”.

He talks about creating Wayne McGregor’s piece Untitled 2023, being in “a state of complete and utter instinct. Weird stuff just comes out. I can be my oddness.” There was a duet with the dancer Leo Dixon, where Sissens was imagining what would happen if he were an alien falling in love with a human. “Leo’s arm was just there, and randomly in a rehearsal I just bit him,” he giggles and mimes nuzzling and chomping on a forearm. It was a move that made it into the final piece.