biography
| name: |
Valois, Dame Ninette de
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| |
originally Edris Stannus
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pronunciation:
[valwah]
| sex:
| female
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| lived:
| (1898–2001)
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| biography:
| Dancer, born in Blessington, Co Wicklow, E Ireland. She first appeared in pantomime at the Lyceum in 1914, and made a European tour with Diaghilev (1923–5). She became director of ballet at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and in 1931 founded the Sadler's Wells Ballet (now the Royal Ballet), continuing as its artistic director until 1963. She was regarded as the pioneer of British ballet, both in her own choreography - such as The Rake's Progress (1935) and Checkmate (1937) - and in the development of a school and two major companies. She was created a dame in 1951 and made a Companion of Honour in 1982. |
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