Sir Kenneth MacMillan - Early life, Choreography, Reference

Ballet dancer, choreographer, and ballet company director, born in Dunfermline, Fife, E Scotland, UK. He joined the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet in 1946, and began to choreograph in 1953. He directed the Berlin Opera (1966–9), and was artistic director of the Royal Ballet (1970–7), becoming its principal choreographer in 1977. His works include Romeo and Juliet (1965), Manon (1974), and Mayerling (1978). He was knighted in 1983.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan (December 11, 1929 Dunfermline, Scotland - October 29, 1992, London) was a noted Scottish ballet dancer and choreographer.

Early life

Kenneth MacMillan was born on 11 December 1929 in Dunfermline, Scotland.

He began choreographing for the company's choreographic group and two promising early works, Somnambulism (1953) and Laiderette (1954) led de Valois to commission a work from the 25-year-old MacMillan.

MacMillan was Director of the Berlin Opera Ballet, 1966-69, and was made director of The Royal Ballet in 1970.

Choreography

Although a talented dancer, MacMillan is best known for his choreography, and particularly for his work with the Royal Ballet and the Deutsche Oper, Berlin.

Reference

Royal Academy of Dance - Revealing MacMillan

Ballet.co's Kenneth MacMillan pages

Designs by Barry Kay for MacMillan ballets at the Barry Kay Archive >> Barry Kay

Kenneth MacMillan entries in the BBC Archive catalogue

Kenneth MacMillan entries in the ITV Archive catalogue

Jane Simpson's Danceview article on the future for the MacMillan repertoire

The Keeper of the Flame, a profile of MacMillan's widow, Deborah

2002 interview with Lady MacMillan by Ismene Brown about her threat to refuse Covent Garden the rights to perform Kenneth MacMillan's ballets

Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Britain's Best, article by Kathrine Sorley Walker written in 1989

Stage call for MacMillan's Rite of Spring, watercolour by his widow, Deborah

Interview with Deborah MacMillan by Jeffrey Taylor

Kenneth MacMillan and Benesh Notation, article by Liz Cunliffe

Dancers on MacMillan (Ismene Brown feature for The Telegraph)

MacMillan, ten years after his death. Times article by Debra Craine

MacMillan and Music. Article by Paul Jackson based on his talk to the Revealing MacMillan conference

Lynn Seymour and Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling

Article on Nicholas Georgiadis, and his collaboration with MacMillan

Mayerling, National Museum of Photography, Film, and Television page

Family heirlooms, MacMillan's legacy, by former Royal Ballet dancer, Susie Crow

Video excerpt from Gloria and BBC Breakfast News interview with Lady MacMillan

The Royal Ballet and Manon

Time Magazine,30 April 1965 on the first night in New York of MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet

Time Magazine, May 5 1967, on the first night in New York of MacMillan's Song of the Earth

History of the Royal Ballet

MacMillan portraits at the National Portrait Gallery

American Ballet Theatre: Romeo and Juliet (Real Player excerpt) (Alessandra Ferri, Julio Bocca), Balcony Scene 1

Romeo and Juliet, Balcony Scene 2 (Real Player excerpt)

Romeo and Juliet, Balcony Scene 3 (Real Player excerpt)

Theatre Museum MacMillan Exhibition

Links to reviews of performances of ballets by Kenneth MacMillan (scroll down)

MacMillan's Soirée Musicale, excerpt from Julie Lincoln's Benesh score

Images from Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of MacMillan's Solitaire

Chester Novello's programme note on Malcolm Arnold's score for Solitaire