Derek Rencher (1932–2014). British dancer and character artist, teacher and designer

Derek Rencher was initially awarded a scholarship to study book illustration at the Royal College of Art, but took up ballet with Barbara Vernon, John Gregory, George Goncharov, Igor Schwezoff, Valentina Pereyaslavec, and then at the Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet School. He joined Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet in 1953. Tall, handsome, and with a strong stage presence, he became known as an exceptional character artist and partner. He was promoted to principal in 1969 and created many roles that drew on his acting talents. These included Demapoön in Persephone, Lysander in The Dream, Rakitin in A Month in the Country and Edward Elgar in Enigma Variations, all for Frederick Ashton; Paris in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Tsar Nicholas II in Anastasia, Monsieur GM in Manon and Paris Singer in Isadora; the Terrestial in Antony Tudor’s Shadowplay; and Aegisthus in Robert Helpmann’s Elektra. He also notably played The Groom in Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, Kostchei in The Firebird and the title role in Don Quixote. Later a principal character artist, Rencher performed for the last time with The Royal Ballet during the 1997–98 season whilst the Royal Opera House was closed for redevelopment. In addition to his performing career, Rencher designed a number of stage productions, including Ashton’s Lament of the Waves, One in Five for The Australian Ballet and Swan Lake for Philadelphia Ballet.