Michael Somes (1917–1994). British dancer, ballet master and director

Michael Somes was born in Horsley, Gloucestershire, in 1917. In 1933 he became the first boy to win a scholarship to the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School, and joined the company in 1936, where his quality was quickly noticed. Apart from a break for armed service during World War Two, Somes’ entire career was with the Sadler’s Wells and then The Royal Ballet. By 1938, he was the chief male dancer in the company, regularly partnering Margot Fonteyn, especially after 1950 when Robert Helpmann left. Somes danced in all the major classics, in which he was advised by Tamara Karsavina. He created roles in as many as 24 of Frederick Ashton’s ballets, first in Horoscope in 1938. His later creations for Ashton included Symphonic Variations, Cinderella, Scenes de ballet, Daphnis and Chloë, Sylvia and Ondine. From 1951 until 1962 he was the lead male dancer for the company, after which he took on many character parts, including created roles in Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand and in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet.

Somes was assistant director of The Royal Ballet from 1963 until 1970. After 1970 he became principal teacher and répétiteur, with special responsibility for Ashton’s ballets. He retired from The Royal Ballet in 1984. He was created CBE in 1959 and died in London in 1994.