Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1976-1990 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
One printed leaflet, 13 pages of photocopies, two compliments slips, six telegrams, one handwritten and four typed letters, one typed and two handwritten faxes, one typed agreement, three handwritten postcards and one printed invitation
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
Name of creator
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
The material in this file relates primarily to An Evening of Ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, staged by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1978. It includes a printed booking form, casting details, rehearsal schedules, a telegram from Rolf Lieberman referencing the difficulties that have occurred, agreements and payments, an invitation to the reception after the first night, and two handwritten cards from Violette [Verdy] one with praise for the dancers in Chant [Song of the Earth], 1978-1979
Other material relates to the impossibility of proceeding with Vivandiere, 1976, the possibility of performing Danses concertantes, 1983-1984, a typed letter from the Bureau de Musique Mario Bois about the possibility of administering the rights of choreographers, a handwritten breakdown of characters in Manon with two copies of typed versions from the Royal Opera House Wardrobe Department, 1989, and a handwritten fax from Deborah MacMillan with a list of fees paid by the Paris Opera Ballet, 1979-1985, 6 Aug 1990
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Script of material
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Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
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Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Paris Opera Ballet (Subject)