Identity area
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Title
Date(s)
- 1971-1991 (Creation)
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One handwritten and six typed letters, one envelope, one typed note, two telegrams, four handwritten faxes, one contract and five pages of photocopies
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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Kenneth MacMillan did not renew his contract as Ballet Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin after 1969. The correspondence in this files includes letters from Gert Reinholm asking for a note to say that their relationship had nothing to do with his decision to leave, 1971-1978, a letter from Igor Kosak asking permission to dance the pas de deux from Concerto 12 Jan 1980, a letter from Gotz Friedrich asking whether Kenneth MacMillan will come and create new choreography for The Sleeping Beauty and a fax asking for permission to reuse the costumes and sets for a new production without MacMillan, 1985, a letter from Steven Scott with details of the fee payable for Anastasia, 1990, correspondence and a contract for Different Drummer, 1991, and a handwritten fax to Peter Schaufuss, Ballet Director, thanking him for releasing Leanne [Benjamin] to dance at a Gala, 1991
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Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Deutsche Oper Berlin (Subject)
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
English
German