File 15 - Romeo and Juliet

Identity area

Reference code

RAD/2/MAC/3/3/15

Title

Romeo and Juliet

Date(s)

  • 1970, undated (Creation)

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File

Extent and medium

Seven pages of Benesh Movement Notation score and six ring bound volumes of scores

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Name of creator

(1929-12-11 - 1992-10-29)

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 created the three-act ballet Romeo and Juliet for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 9.2.1965 at the Royal Opera House. The ballet continues to be performed regularly by The Royal Ballet and is also in the repertory of ballet companies around the world. There are five files relating to the Benesh Movement Notation score, mostly the rough score recorded by Faith Worth with some later material recorded by Tom Steuart. This file contains part of the rough score by Faith Worth and comprises

  1. Title page a list of the books and their contents, handwritten in black biro.
  2. Six pages of score, three with notes and score in pencil, three blank pages
  3. Book 7, ring bound with blue card covers with Act I Opening, Act II Opening Dance, Perf Notes Act II Romeo enters and further details in red felt tip pen overwritten in black biro, Checked 1970 in top left corner in black felt tip pen, with 11 pages of score in pencil with black biro and felt pen additions. No back cover
  4. Book 6, ring bound with blue card covers with Romeo and Juliet Act I and list of dances in blue biro, some crossed out in pencil, with 15 pages of score in pencil
  5. Book 18, ring bound with blue card covers with Romeo and Juliet Act I and list of dances in blue biro and pencil, with 16 pages of score in pencil. No back cover
  6. Book 4, ring bound with blue card covers with Romeo and Juliet Act I No. 10 Nursery Scene and No. 20 Romeo - Balcony Solo in blue biro, with eight pages of score in pencil. With note in pencil of what 'Rudy does' at end of Balcony Solo
  7. Book 2, ring bound with blue card covers with Romeo and Juliet Act I No. 11 Going to the Ball and Exit from Ballroom in black and blue biro, with 12 pages of score in pencil, with a note in top margin on page 18 'KMc 1970'
  8. Book 11, ring bound with blue card covers with Romeo and Juliet Act I and a list of dances in black and blue biro and pencil, with 12 pages of score in pencil

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