Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1976-1978, undated (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Eight typed letters, four with envelopes, two telegrams one with envelope, one handwritten note, two handwritten letters, one handwritten postcard, 21 pages of photocopies, one handwritten delivery card
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
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Ballerina Nora Kaye met Kenneth MacMillan in 1956 when he choreographed Winter's Eve for American Ballet Theatre. Nora Kaye and her husband, choreographer and director Herbert Ross were great friends of Kenneth MacMillan and his family. The material in this file consists mostly of letters expressing that friendship. It comprises
- Delivery card to accompany flowers after seeing one of Kenneth MacMillan's ballets, n.d.
- Handwritten card from Herbert Ross and Nora Kaye written by Nora, to Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte, enclosing an unspecified gift , n.d.
- Handwritten letter from Nora Kaye, enclosing photographs to remind them of their visit. Sending Kenneth MacMillan good wishes for The Seven Deadly Sins, n.d.
- Handwritten letter from Nora Kay, mentioning Kenneth MacMillan's pending foot operation and Charlotte's tonsils. Also references to Misha (Mikhail Baryshnikov), Rudy (Rudolf Nureyev), Anthony Dowell and Norman Morrice, July 1st, no year
- Handwritten note from Nora Kay enclosing an interview (not in file). Reference to Leslie [Browne] and Antony Tudor, n.d.
- Typed letter from Herbert Ross inviting Kenneth and Deborah and baby for the summer, 19 Jul 1976
- Telegram from Nora to Kenneth in Stuttgart, pleased with rushes of Romeo and Juliet, with envelope, 14 Sep 1976
- Typed letter from Herbert Ross on Columbia Pictures headed notepaper, pleased that Kenneth liked the film [The Turning Point] and thanking him for letting them use the pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet, with envelope, 9 Jan 1978
- Typed letter signed by Herbert and Nora to Deborah with thanks for Deborah's notes and congratulations on the wonderful reviews of Kenneth's ballet, with envelope, 26 Jun 1978
- Typed letter signed by Herbert and Nora thanking Kenneth and Deborah for package from Fortnum and Masons, with envelope and covering note from Assistant to Herbert Ross apologising for delay, 19 Sep 1978
- Three letters from Arlene Brownstein, Secretary to Herbert Ross, enclosing copies of the telephone bills for period when Kenneth and Deborah stayed at Herbert and Nora's homes in New York and Malibu, and one letter acknowledging receipt of payment, 16 Nov 1981 - 26 Feb 1982
- One telegram from Nora [Kaye] with alteration to travel schedule, n.d.
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Item 4 contains some potentially sensitive comments. Access at the discretion of the Archives and Records Manager
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Allied materials area
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Kaye, Nora (Subject)
- Ross, Herbert (Subject)