Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1991, undated (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Four handwritten pages, one envelope with handwritten notes, two handwritten postcards, one handwritten letter, one typed note, one copy of a ground plan and two copies of elevations
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
Repository
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Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Winter Dreams for The Royal Ballet which premiered on 7.2.1991 at the Royal Opera House, London. The material comprises
- One list handwritten by Kenneth MacMillan of the action and/or scenes sometimes with the names of the dancers or characters, in pencil with amendments in blue ink. On the reverse of a page of rehearsal schedule for The Royal Ballet dated 27th December
- Handwritten list of the movements of the ballet, with timings. In pencil with amendments by Kenneth MacMillan in blue ink
- Handwritten explanation of the ballet by Kenneth MacMillan, in black biro. With a covering page for a fax to Kate Howells, publication department at the Royal Opera House, from Deborah (MacMillan) 5.6.1991
- Envelope with handwritten notes by Kenneth MacMillan on the ballet, undated
- Two handwritten postcards and one handwritten letter to Kenneth MacMillan, praising the ballet, from Eleanor Fazan 25.1.1991, Anthony Dowell 7.2.1991 and Jenny (Genista) McIntosh, Executive Director of the National Theatre, 27.2.1991
- Typed note from Anya Sainsbury to Kenneth MacMillan inviting him to a supper party after the first night, 10.1.1991
- One ground plan and two elevations showing positions of cameras and changes to scenery required for filming (large)
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions governing access
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Script of material
Language and script notes
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The large ground plan and elevation drawings are filed in Box 52
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- MacMillan, Kenneth (Subject)