Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- c.1835-1992 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
16 boxes, 10 albums/books (3m)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Adeline Genée, born Anina Margarete Kirstina Petra Jensen, was a Danish-British ballerina, choreographer, and dance educator renowned for her refined technique and charm. Genée was adopted at the age of eight by her aunt and uncle - Antonia Zimmermann and Alexander Genée - who were both famous dancers and wanted to train their young niece for the stage. Alexander ran his own ballet company and Genée appeared with Alexander Genée’s company at the Berlin Opera and Munich Opera before coming to London. Genée made her debut at London's Empire Theatre on 22 November 1897 becoming the regular star ballerina performing in productions such as Old China (1901), The Milliner Duchess (1903), High Jinks (1904), Cinderella and Coppelia (1906).
In 1920 she became founder president of the Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain (later the RAD) and was instrumental in obtaining the Royal Charter in 1935. She continued as president of the RAD until 1954 and inspired the Genée International Ballet Competition (now The Fonteyn).
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This Collection covers Genée’s performing career from the earliest years and includes a significant number of photographs of late 19th and early 20th century ballets, programmes and ephemera for performances in the UK and overseas, professional and personal memorabilia. There is material covering her work with the RAD, a significant number of letters especially to Anton Dolin, art works, designs, music scores, teaching notes and her memoirs written with Ivor Guest. It is a comprehensive record of a career as well as a rich resource for the study of ballet.