Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1990-1992 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Five handwritten and 15 typed letters, five handwritten faxes, one typed and five handwritten notes, three typed programmes and programme notes, one photocopy, one compliments slip, three press releases, one typed submission, one printed ticket and one printed name tag, two copies of an order of service with inserts
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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Name of creator
Biographical history
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Scope and content
Administrative correspondence and some personal notes. There is a submission to The Royal Ballet Board of Governors by David Drew, and a photocopy of a letter from Anthony Russell Roberts to HRH The Princess Margaret, about The Royal Ballet wage dispute, 1990. Peter Wilson, Honorary Secretary of The Royal Ballet Governors, sends a Royal Opera House precis of The Arts Council Appraisal and the Price Waterhouse Review, together with the Royal Opera House press statement, 1992
Correspondence includes:
- from Jeremy Isaacs apologising for having to cancel a performance of The Prince of the Pagodas, 1990
- a handwritten fax and 'Margot piece' with a tickets for the performance of Romeo and Juliet given as A Tribute to Dame Margot Fonteyn, 1990
- two letters about the Queen Mother's 90th birthday tribute, with Kenneth MacMillan's name badge, 1990
- two faxes about the pas de deux from Winter Dreams, 1990
- from Publications Department re programme notes for Manon and Concerto, 1990, Gala programme for The Prince of the Pagodas, The Judas Tree and Mayerling, 1992
- Handwritten draft letter to Anthony Dowell re 'Sylvie Guillem problem' , 1990
- with Dr Joan Watson on naming a plant fossil in his honour, 1992
There are handwritten drafts of a recommendation for Kim Baker, formerly of Royal Opera House Wardrobe Department, notes about Yolanda Sonnabend, and a draft letter of condolence to Camilla Panufnik on the death of her husband Andrezj, plus a page of notes
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Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- Royal Opera House, London (Subject)
- The Royal Ballet (Subject)
- Guillem, Sylvie (Subject)