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- 1979-1990, n.d. (Creation)
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One typed invitation, eight typed letters, one envelope, two programmes, one postcard, one interdepartmental communication and four handwritten pages
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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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The correspondence in this file comprises:
- Invitation to the Annual Cocktail Party, 3 Jan 1979
- Typed letter of congratulation from Louise Browne, Chairman of the Yorkshire Regional Centre, on Kenneth MacMillan's receipt of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, 8 Jan 1979
- Typed letter from Alan Hooper, Artistic Director, inviting Kenneth MacMillan to judge the Phyllis Bedells Bursary, 20 Mar 1980, with envelope
- Two copies of the programme booklet for The Phyllis Bedells Bursary 20 Jul 1980, with details of the contestants
- Typed IDC from Olivia to Kenneth MacMillan, with details of the Bursary, n.d.
- Four pages of handwritten judging notes by Kenneth MacMillan, n.d.
- Typed letter from Jayne White, Education and Training Manager, inviting Kenneth MacMillan to sit on the panel of judges for the first Imperial Group Genee Awards, 27 Nov 1981
8, Three typed letters from Ivor Guest, Chairman, relating to Kenneth MacMillan's election as a Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dancing, 8 Aug 1984, 21 Jan and 8 Mar 1985 - Typed letter from David [Wall], thanking Kenneth MacMillan for his article 'on dear Barry', 6 Jun 1985
- Typed letter from David Wall, General Secretary, enclosing an invitation to the official opening of the Fonteyn Centre (invitation not there), 1 Nov 1990
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- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Royal Academy of Dance (Subject)
- Wall, David (Subject)
- Bedells, Phyllis (Subject)
- Guest, Ivor (Subject)
- Hooper, Alan (Subject)
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Archivist's note
Some of the language in the judging notes would now be considered offensive. Access to these notes is at the discretion of the Archives and Records Manager
Archivist's note
Some of these items would be interesting to digitise