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Ninette de Valois
British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Ninette de Valois OM CH DBE FRAD FISTD (6 June 1898 – 8 March 2001) was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Dame Ninette de Valois | |
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![]() Ninette de Valois in 1974 | |
Born | Edris Stannus (1898-06-06)6 June 1898 |
Died | 8 March 2001(2001-03-08) (aged 102) |
Nationality | Irish |
Citizenship | British |
Education | Lila Field Academy for Children Edouard Espinosa Enrico Cecchetti Nicholas Legat |
Occupation(s) | Ballet dancer and teacher Choreographer Company Director |
Years active | 1900s–90s |
Organization(s) | The Royal Ballet Birmingham Royal Ballet Royal Ballet School |
Known for | Ballet |
Notable work | Job (Choreographer) Checkmate (Choreographer) |
Title | Founder & Artistic Director |
Term | 1931–1963 (Royal Ballet) |
Predecessor | None (Founder) |
Successor | Sir Frederick Ashton |
Spouse | Arthur Connell |
Awards | Laurence Olivier Award 1992 |
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Most notably, she danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, reaching the rank of soloist. After Diaghilev's death she established what became The Royal Ballet. This became one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century and one of the leading ballet companies in the world today. She also established the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet and as the 'godmother' of English ballet.[1][2][3]