Norman McDowell (1931-1980). Northern Irish dancer and designer

Norman McDowell was born in Belfast in 1932. After training with the Belfast Ballet Club, he continued his studies at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School, and joined the Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet. In 1951 he appeared with the Original Ballet Russe, and later went to Ballet Rambert and Festival Ballet. From 1951 he also began designing for ballet, including many works for Jack Carter. In all he designed for 40 ballets. 

In 1956 McDowell took the lead in Carter’s The Witch Boy in Amsterdam, and in 1959 designed the Carter/Noël Coward London Morning for London Festival Ballet. He formed London Theatre Ballet with Anne Heaton in 1964, but when the company folded he went to Festival Ballet, where he was also a designer and director. McDowell died in London in 1980.