Brian Ashbridge (1926-1995). New Zealand-born dancer and director

Brian Ashbridge was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1926. He studied in Sydney, Australia, and went to London in 1947, where he won the Gold Medal at the Royal Academy of Dance’s Adeline Genée Awards and continued his studies at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School. From 1948 until 1965 he danced for the Sadler’s Wells (later Royal) Ballet at Covent Garden, becoming a principal in 1958. He danced in most of the classic ballets, often partnering Beryl Grey and Svetlana Beriosova.

In 1965 Ashbridge returned to New Zealand, initially to work in television. In 1969 he was appointed associate artistic director of The Australian Ballet, and in 1971 became artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. He returned to The Australia Ballet in 1975 as associate director. He died in Melbourne in 1995.