BRITISH LEGACY / THE COLLECTION
British dancers and choreographers have significantly influenced the world of ballet, contemporary dance, and beyond. Figures like Margot Fonteyn and choreographers like Matthew Bourne have set high standards in performance and creativity.
51 entries
From the Vic-Wells Ballet to a celebrated partnership with Rudolf Nureyev, Fonteyn built a career that shaped the Royal Ballet and carried British dance to international audiences.
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The Soviet-born dancer’s partnership with Margot Fonteyn made the Royal Ballet a stage for a remarkable artistic exchange.
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From his late start in dance to the male swans of Swan Lake, Bourne has made theatrical, narrative-led dance for audiences across generations.
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From his first choreography in 1926 to the directorship of the Royal Ballet, Ashton built a repertory that joined musical precision, comedy and English character.
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From his early years as a dancer to the Royal Ballet and beyond, MacMillan brought psychological intensity and new subjects to classical dance.
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From her 1989 promotion as the Royal Ballet’s youngest principal dancer to television, education and public service, Bussell has carried ballet to wider audiences.
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From Stockport to the Royal Ballet, McGregor has built a career connecting contemporary movement with science, design and popular culture.
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From London’s Ballet Club to American Ballet Theatre, Tudor made classical form a vehicle for complicated human feeling.
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The Huddersfield-born choreographer joined Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet in 1976, created works including Hobson’s Choice and Edward II, and led Birmingham Royal Ballet for nearly 24 years.
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The Canadian-born ballerina became a defining interpreter of Kenneth MacMillan’s work at the Royal Ballet, and went on to choreograph and lead companies.
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French-born ballerina who performed with the Royal Ballet, known for her technical brilliance and artistic versatility.
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The Yeovil-born artist has made story-led ballet for companies in Britain and abroad, including the Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter’s Tale.
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The Spanish dancer’s years with British ballet companies encompassed demanding classical roles, new commissions and a decade leading English National Ballet.
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From training in Bucharest and Kyiv to principal roles in London, Cojocaru built an international career with deep ties to British ballet.
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From principal dancer to répétiteur, Jonathan Cope’s Royal Ballet career included major roles, new creations and a return to the stage after an early retirement.
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The Cuban-born dancer brought athleticism and international experience to the Royal Ballet before becoming director of Birmingham Royal Ballet.
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Prima ballerina with the Royal Ballet, known for her performances in "Swan Lake" and "The Sleeping Beauty."
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The Scottish dancer and choreographer brought classical technique into conversation with punk, fashion, music and visual art.
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The Polish-born dancer founded a school and company that gave new choreographers room to develop, helping to change the course of dance in Britain.
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Born in South Africa, Cranko trained and began his career in Britain before becoming a leading choreographer and artistic director in Germany.
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The British choreographer shaped contemporary dance through work for Rambert, The Place and his own company.
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American-born choreographer who has had a significant impact on British dance through his innovative and abstract works.
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Contemporary choreographer known for his work with the Royal Ballet and his reinterpretations of classic ballets.
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A Royal Ballet principal, frequent partner of Margot Fonteyn and collaborator of Frederick Ashton, Somes helped shape the company on stage and behind the scenes.
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Principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, known for her versatility and dramatic interpretations.
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Principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, known for his contemporary roles and collaborations with Wayne McGregor.
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From Moscow training and the Bolshoi to a principal role in London, Osipova has made a distinctive contribution to British ballet.
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From tap lessons in Sydney to principal dancer at the Royal Ballet, Steven McRae has performed across classical and contemporary repertoire.
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Born in Johannesburg, Monica Mason spent more than half a century with The Royal Ballet, moving from the corps to its artistic directorship.
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From the Royal Ballet stage to television and dance education, Bussell has brought ballet to audiences in Britain and beyond.
Read the entryBorn in Canada and trained in Spain, Rojo became a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet before leading English National Ballet from 2012 to 2022.
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Born in Buenos Aires, Núñez became a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, performing leading roles across its classical and contemporary repertory.
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From early training in Rome to principal roles at the Royal Ballet, Durante built an international career with enduring ties to British dance.
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The American-born dancer joined the Royal Ballet in 2004, became a principal in 2006 and has performed roles across its classical and contemporary repertory.
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Dance company founded by Carlos Acosta, blending classical ballet with contemporary dance forms.
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From the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet to leading Scottish Ballet, Hampson has built a career as a choreographer and arts leader.
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A former principal dancer, O’Hare became director of the Royal Ballet in 2012, taking responsibility for a company balancing its classical inheritance with new work.
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An Irish-born dancer, choreographer and director created institutions that shaped ballet in Britain and helped establish the art form in Turkey.
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Former artistic director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, known for his productions of "The Nutcracker" and "Giselle."
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Principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, known for her roles in "Swan Lake" and "Romeo and Juliet."
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