British narrative ballet (Ashton and MacMillan)
The Royal Ballet grew from the Vic-Wells Ballet, founded by Ninette de Valois at Sadler's Wells in 1931. It moved to the Royal Opera House in 1946 and received its Royal Charter and current name in 1956. Frederick Ashton, its founder choreographer, shaped a lyrical English style, with works such as Symphonic Variations (1946), La fille mal gardee (1960) and Enigma Variations (1968).
Kenneth MacMillan, the company's director from 1970 to 1977 and later its principal choreographer, made dramatic full-length ballets, among them Romeo and Juliet (1965), Manon (1974) and Mayerling (1978), often exploring darker psychological themes. The works of Ashton and MacMillan remain central to the repertory of the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Royal Ballet
- Wikipedia: Frederick Ashton
- Wikipedia: Kenneth MacMillan
- Royal Ballet and Opera: The Royal Ballet
Organisations connected with this dance
Listed as references; being listed is not an endorsement by or of the organisation.