Harold Turner (1906-1962). British dancer and teacher

Harold Turner was born in Manchester in 1906 to a musical family. He started ballet training under Alfred Haines in 1925 and made his professional debut two years later with Haines’ English Ballet. Encouraged by Léonide Massine, he then moved to London to study under Marie Rambert, who, in 1930, engaged him to partner Tamara Karsavina in Le Spectre de la Rose. During the early 1930s Turner danced both for Ballet Rambert and the Vic-Wells Company.

In 1935 Turner became a principal dancer with the Vic-Wells Ballet, the first British trained dancer to achieve such a position. He danced many classic roles as well as creating parts in new ballets. These included the Red Knight in Ninette de Valois’ Checkmate and the Blue Boy in Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs.

From 1941 until 1942 he worked for International Ballet and then undertook war service until 1945. He returned to Sadler’s Wells Ballet, taking on more character roles as time went on. He retired from full-time dancing in 1955, and then taught at The Royal Ballet School as well as making occasional stage appearances. He died in London in 1962, when on his way from his dressing room to a ballet rehearsal.