Julian Hosking (1953-1989). British dancer

Julian Hosking was born in Cornwall in 1953. He entered The Royal Ballet School in 1964, and The Royal Ballet in 1970, becoming a principal in 1980. He danced in a large number and range of performances until his retirement in 1986. These included lead roles in Kenneth MacMillan’s La Fin du jour and Gloria and Isadora, and in Glen Tetley’s Dances of Albion. In 1981, Hosking created the role of Edward Gordon Craig in MacMillan’s Isadora, as which he also appeared in the subsequent television film. From 1975 to 1977, Hosking took leave from The Royal Ballet to study Egyptology and Art History. He was the partner of the artist André Durand, who painted a number of portraits of Hosking. Julian Hosking died in London in 1989.