Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1976-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Three handwritten and ten typed letters, two printed exhibition catalogues, eight typed pages and nine printed pages in plastic front and card back covers
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and began ballet classes in Retford, England, in 1940. He joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1944 and later the Sadler's Wells Ballet but gave up dancing for choreography partly due to crippling stage fright. His first choreographic work was Somnambulism, created for the Sadler's Wells Ballet Choreographic Group in 1953 and he created works for both Royal Ballet companies throughout his career. He created significant works for The Stuttgart Ballet and his works are danced by ballet companies world-wide. He has also created work for television and cinema.
Kenneth MacMillan was Director of the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin from 1966 to 1969, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977 and its Principal Chroreographer from 1977 until his death. He was also Associate Director of American Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1989, and Artistic Associate of the Houston Ballet from 1989 to 1992.
Kenneth MacMillan was knighted in 1983, and he received honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (1976) and the Royal College of Art (1992). His awards include the Evening Standard Ballet Award (1979); Society of West End Theatre Ballet Award, 1980 and 1983; and, posthumously, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 1993 for The Judas Tree; the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 1993; and the Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1994 for Carousel
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
The correspondence in this file relates to proposed publications and includes
- one handwritten letter from Zsuzsi Roboz about a proposed book of ballet portraits, asking to include Kenneth MacMillan and enclosing catalogues for recent exhibitions, 16 Jun 1976
- three typed letters from Gyles Brandreth, Victorama Ltd., arranging lunch with Kenneth MacMillan and Edward Thorpe to discuss the proposed Everyman's Companion to Ballet, 11 Nov-18 Dec 1981, one handwritten letter from Gyles Brandreth enclosing a copy of the proposed treatment for the book, 8 Jan 1982, and a typed letter from Malcolm Gerratt, Director of JM Dent & Sons, Publishers, about moving the project forward, 8 Apr 1982
- two typed letters from Robert Penman about the possibility of collaborating on a book, 2 Jul 1983 and 16 Dec 1986; one typed letter from Robert Penman to Deborah MacMillan about the possibility of working on two books about Kenneth MacMillan, 21 Apr 1993
- one handwritten letter from Roger Schlesinger, Publishing and Literary Consultant, about working together 'on your book', 2 Mar 1987
- one typed letter from Alistair [Livingstone] of The Image Bank enclosing a proposal for Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Portfolio of Ballet Designs, comprising nine printed pages with black and white illustrations of designs, 1989
- one typed letter from Linda Saughnessy, AP Watt Ltd, asking if Kenneth MacMillan would be prepared to be interviewed for a forthcoming autobiography from Rudolf Nureyev, 19 Sep 1990
- one typed letter from Gillian Morton, Origen Arts, about a forthcoming children's book on ballet and asking if Kenneth MacMillan would answer some questions on choreography, 8 Feb 1991. With Kenneth MacMillan's typed reply, 12 Jul 1991
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)