Wendy Ellis (1951-). British ballerina, teacher and producer

Wendy Ellis was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, in 1951. She studied at The Royal Ballet School from 1963 until 1970, when she joined The Royal Ballet, becoming a principal in 1979. Ellis danced with the company until her retirement in 199O, during which time she had danced leading roles in a huge range and number of works, including Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Lise in La Fille mal gardée and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

Throughout her career Ellis was particularly associated with the works of Frederick Ashton and created roles in Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling and Gloria. She was married to Michael Somes, former Royal Ballet principal who later worked as assistant director and ballet master, and to whom Ashton bequeathed the rights of his ballets Cinderella and Symphonic Variations. From her retirement from dancing until Somes’ death in 1994, Ellis collaborated with her husband in producing these ballets around the world. Since Somes’ death, Ellis has pursued a busy schedule doing the same thing single-handed.