Darcey Bussell (1969-). British dancer, teacher, television presenter and president of the Royal Academy of Dance

Darcey Bussell was born in London in 1969. After initial training at Arts Educational School, she joined The Royal Ballet School at the age of 13. In 1987 she joined Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, but while still at school her talent had been noticed by Kenneth MacMillan, and he decided to create on her the leading role of Princes Rose in his The Prince of the Pagodas. Bussell then joined The Royal Ballet (in 1988) and was made a principal in 1989 on the first night of MacMillan’s new ballet.

During her distinguished career with The Royal Ballet, Bussell became one of the most famous British dancers of her time, and indeed of any time. She was particularly noted for her combination of a tall, athletic physique with a lovely, soft lyricism. During her dancing career she performed in as many as 80 different ballets, including the major classical roles, and had 17 new ballets created on her. While remaining with The Royal Ballet until her formal retirement from dancing in 2007 (with a performance in MacMillan’s Song of the Earth), she also appeared as a guest artist with many major companies abroad, including New York City Ballet, the Ballet of La Scala, Milan, the Maryinsky Ballet, Hamburg Ballet and The Australian Ballet.

Even while dancing professionally Bussell had begun to work in television and in other media, and this side of her career developed at a fast pace following her retirement from ballet. As well as writing, modelling and presenting, both for television and for Royal Opera House relays, she became a household name as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing (in 2009 and from 2012 to 2019).

Since 2012 Bussell has been the president of the Royal Academy of Dance. Also in 2012 she danced the Spirit of the Flame at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, leading a troupe of 200 dancers. She supports many educational and charitable causes, both artistic and in other fields. She has received many honours, including a gold medal from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 2009. Darcey Bussell was appointed OBE for services to dance in 1995, CBE in 2006 and DBE in 2018.