Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1986-1987 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
One handwritten note, three typed pages, four typed letters, two with envelopes, one office memo, eight index cards typed with handwritten annotations, two printed programmes, two pages from a magazine, one photocopy of a press cutting
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
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Kenneth MacMillan was responsible for the revival of American Ballet Theatre's Choreographic Workshops. He adjudicated the first showing of new works in September 1986 and there was a further workshop and performance in September 1987. The material in this file comprises
- Handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan for his speech at the performance of the new works, undated
- Eight card indexes with details of the choreographer, music and dancers for each new work, with handwritten notes in blue biro
- Typed list of Choreographers' Workshop details, giving music, dancers and timings, and also what help is required, 14 May 1986
- Correspondence re arrangements including Kenneth MacMillan's travel from London
- Two pages from On Point giving an interview with Clark Tippet, undated, and a photocopy of an interview in the Miami Herald, 29 Jan 1987
- Programme for the Choreographers Workshop Presentation 6 Sep 1986 at The Joyce Theatre, New York
- Programme for the Choreographers Workshop Presentation 14 Sep 1987 at The Triplex, Borough of Manhatten Community College, New York
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Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)
- American Ballet Theatre (Subject)
- Tippet, Clark (Subject)