English National Ballet gave its first performances in 1950 as Gala Performances of Ballet. In 1951 it became London's Festival Ballet, changing its name to London Festival Ballet in 1951. In July 1989 the Company became English National Ballet
Betty Hassall was born in Cheltenham in 1909 and was a pupil of Judith Espinosa and Irene Hammond, whom she succeeded as Principal of the Hammond School in 1946. As a Children's Examiner for the RAD she was a pioneer of the original Ballet in Education syllabus and later Chairman of the Panel of Children's Examiners. An instigator of the Regional scheme she was the founding Chair of the Liverpool Region and was awarded a Fellowship of the RAD in 1979.
Lila de Nobili was a Italian stage and costume designer and fashion illustrator.