Frederic Franklin (1914-2013). British dancer, director and choreographer

Frederic (known to many as “Freddie”) Franklin was born in Liverpool in 1914, and began his balletic studies there at the Studio School. He then trained under Nicholas Legat and others. In 1931 Franklin danced at the Casino de Paris, alongside Josephine Baker, and went on to perform in musicals and various other performances, including those with Anton Dolin and Wendy Toye. He danced with the Vic-Wells Ballet, and joined the Markova-Dolin Ballet in 1935. Three years later Franklin joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, then touring in America and internationally, where he was a principal dancer until 1952 and ballet master from 1944.

Dancing 45 leading roles for the Ballet Russe, Franklin formed a famous partnership with Alexandra Danilova, as well as appearing with many other great ballerinas. In 1962 Franklin became director of the National Ballet of Washington DC, where he remained until 1974. He then pursued a career mainly in America, choreographing and staging ballets for many companies, including Dance Theatre of Harlem’s acclaimed production of Giselle, as well as appearing as a character artist with American Ballet Theatre. Franklin was honoured with a CBE in Britain for services to dance in 2004. He died in New York in 2013.