Timeline

Explore our timeline of British Ballet

Down Arrow

This Timeline is to support our Voices of British Ballet podcasts and recordings.

In it there are dates and basic facts, which will help in understanding our ‘voices’ recollections. It is not meant to be a comprehensive history of British ballet. We do, though, hope that it will give a sense of the many personalities and companies involved in that history, including some who, over the decades, have been forgotten.

Jump to: 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Explore all content from 1890s

Explore

Adeline Genée gives her first performance at the Empire Theatre, London.

Explore all content from 1900s

Explore

Isadora Duncan begins her sensational career in Europe

Foundation of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)

Phyllis Bedells makes her London debut

Explore all content from 1910s

Explore

Launch of the Dancing Times

Cyril Beaumont, dance historian, writer and publisher, opens his antiquarian bookshop and his Beaumont Press at 75, Charing Cross Road, London

First performance in London of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes

Anna Pavlova buys Ivy House and settles in London

Winifred Edwards joins Anna Pavlova’s company

Vaslav Nijinsky appears at Palace Theatre, London, with his own company

Pauline Bush opens the Pauline Bush School of Dancing in Nottingham, the forerunner of the Bush Davies School

Serafina Astafieva opens her school in London

World premieres of La Boutique fantasque and Le tricorne, by the Ballets Russes

Lydia Kyasht opens her school

Explore all content from 1920s

Explore

Founding of The Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain (now the Royal Academy of Dance, (RAD))

Marie Rambert opens her school

Serge Digahilev’s Ballets Russes performs The Sleeping Princess

Foundation of Elmhurst School in Camberley, Surrey

Formation of The Cecchetti Society

Ninette de Valois opens the Academy of Choreographic Art

Frederick Ashton choreographs A Tragedy of Fashion for the pupils of Marie Rambert

Premiere of George Balanchine’s The Triumph of Neptune by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes

Death of Serge Diaghilev

Nicolas Legat sets up his school

Explore all content from 1930s

Explore

Establishment of the British Ballet Organization (BBO)

First public performance by the Marie Rambert Dancers

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Capriol Suite by the Marie Rambert dancers

The Ballet Club opens at the Mercury Theatre, London

The First performance by The Camargo Society

First full-evening performance by the Vic-Wells Ballet on 5 May

The Vic-Wells Ballet School moves to Sadler’s Wells

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Façade by the Camargo Society

Premiere of Ninette de Valois’ Job by the Camargo Society

The Royal Academy of Dance’s Production Club

The Vic-Wells Ballet dances Act II of Swan Lake

Nicholas Sergeyev stages Coppélia for the Vic-Wells Ballet

First London season by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo at the Alhambra Theatre

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous by the Vic-Wells Ballet

Founding of the Markova-Dolin Ballet

Premiere of Ninette de Valois’ The Rake’s Progress by the Vic-Wells Ballet

Premiere of Antony Tudor’s Jardin aux lilas (Lilac Garden) by Ballet Rambert

Les Ballets Trois Arts established

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs for the Vic-Wells Ballet

Premiere of Antony Tudor’s Dark Elegies by Ballet Rambert

Premiere of Ninette de Valois’ Checkmate by the Vic-Wells Ballet

London Ballet founded

London ballet wars London ballet wars between the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Original Ballet Russe

The Arts Theatre Ballet established

Lydia Kyasht opens Ballet de la Jeunesse Anglaise

The Vic-Wells Ballet dances The Sleeping Princess for the first time

Premiere of Andrée Howard’s Lady into Fox by Ballet Rambert

First issue of Richard Buckle’s Ballet magazine

ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) formed

Explore all content from 1940s

Explore

The Anglo Polish Ballet established

Premiere of Ninette de Valois’ The Prospect Before Us by the Vic-Wells Ballet

The Pauline Grant Ballet established

Premiere of Andrée Howard’s La Fête étrange by the London Ballet

Mona Inglesby’s International Ballet founded

The Ballet Guild established, giving rise to the Embassy Ballet

The Vic-Wells Ballet renamed Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Jay Pomeroy Ballet founded

Allied Ballet established

Cone-Ripman School (later the Arts Educational Trust) opens

Anglo-Russian Ballet established

Premiere of Robert Helpmann’s Miracle in the Gorbals by Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet created

Les Ballet des Champs Élysées established

The Arts Council founded

Sadler’s Wells Ballet moves to Covent Garden to perform The Sleeping Beauty

First performances by Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet, later Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Symphonic Variations for Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Les Ballet Nègres established

P.W. Manchester’s Ballet Today magazine published

The Metropolitan Ballet launched

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Scènes de ballet for Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Alan Carter’s The St James’ Ballet formed

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella by Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Festival Ballet established in London

The Gregory’s School of Russian Ballet established

Explore all content from 1950s

Explore

Sadler’s Wells Ballet dances George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial for the first time

Dance and Dancers magazine established by Peter Williams

Ballet Workshop established

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s Midsummer Watch by Ballet Workshop

Premiere of John Cranko’s Pineapple Poll by Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Daphnis and Chloë by Sadler’s Wells Ballet

First Royal Festival Hall season given by London Festival Ballet

Premiere of John Cranko’s The Lady and the Fool by Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet

Sadler’s Wells Ballet dances Mikhail Fokine’s The Firebird for the first time

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Danses concertantes by Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet

Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet is expanded and later becomes The Royal Ballet Touring Company

Rudolf and Joan Benesh present The Benesh System (now the Benesh Movement Notation)

London Festival Ballet dances Harald Lander’s Etudes for the first time

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering by Sadler’s Wells Ballet

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Solitaire by Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet

The Sadler’s Wells Ballet Companies and School became The Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet Touring Company and The Royal Ballet School

Western Theatre Ballet established

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s The Prisoners by Western Theatre Ballet

London Festival Ballet dances Jack Carter’s The Witch Boy for the first time

Premiere of Norman Morrice’s Two Brothers by Ballet Rambert

Harlequin Ballet founded

Explore all content from 1960s

Explore

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s The Invitation by The Royal Ballet Touring Company

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s The Two Pigeons by The Royal Ballet Touring Company

Walter Gore’s London Ballet launched

Vladimir Bourmeister creates The Snow Maiden for London Festival Ballet

Rudolf Nureyev defects in Paris

First performance of Kenneth MacMillan’s The Rite of Spring by The Royal Ballet

First time Ballet Rambert dances Don Quixote

John Gilpin becomes director of London Festival Ballet

Balletmakers Limited created

Frederick Ashton becomes director of The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet dances the ‘Kingdom of the Shades’ scene from Marius Petipa’s La Bayadère for the first time

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s Mods and Rockers ’63 by Western Theatre Ballet danced to music by The Beatles

Ballet for All established

London Dance Theatre founded

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s The Dream by The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet dances Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Biches for the first time

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet by The Royal Ballet

International Ballet Caravan established by Alexander Roy and Christina Gallea. It was later re-named Alexander Roy London Ballet Theatre

The Royal Ballet dances Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces for the first time

The Royal Ballet Touring Company dances Act III of Marius Petipa’s Raymonda for the first time

Ballet Rambert, under the direction of Norman Morrice, becomes a modern dance company

The Royal Ballet performs Kenneth MacMillan’s Song of the Earth for the first time

London Festival Ballet dances Serge Lifar’s Noir et blanc for the first time

The Royal Ballet performs George Balanchine’s Apollo for the first time

London School of Contemporary Dance founded

The Royal Ballet Choreographic Group launched

Ballet Rambert performs Glen Tetley’s Pierrot Lunaire for the first time

Beryl Grey becomes director of London Festival Ballet

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Enigma Variations by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Glen Tetley’s Embrace Tiger and Return to Mountain by Ballet Rambert

The Place founded and London Contemporary Dance Theatre established

Premiere of Robert Cohan’s Cell by London Contemporary Dance Theatre

Scottish Theatre Ballet (later Scottish Ballet) established

Northern Dance Theatre (later Northen Ballet Theatre) formed

Explore all content from 1970s

Explore

Kenneth MacMillan becomes director of The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet dances Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering for the first time

The Royal Ballet Touring Company becomes The Royal Ballet New Group (later renamed Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet)

Premiere of Glen Tetley’s Field Figures by The Royal Ballet New Group

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s Giselle by Scottish Theatre Ballet

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s three-act version of Anastasia by The Royal Ballet

Formation of New London Ballet under Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s Othello by New London Ballet

London Festival Ballet performs Mary Skeaping’s production of Giselle

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s The Tales of Hoffmann by Scottish Theatre Ballet

David Gayle’s Yorkshire Ballet Seminars established

Premiere of Jack Carter’s Three Dances to Japanese Music by Scottish Theatre Ballet

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker by Scottish Theatre Ballet

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Robert North’s Troy Game by London Contemporary Dance Theatre

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations by The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet performs Jerome Robbins’ The Concert for the first time

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s A Month in the Country by The Royal Ballet

Robert de Warren appointed artistic director of Northern Ballet Theatre

The Royal Ballet New Group becomes Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet with Peter Wright as director

Premiere of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet by London Festival Ballet

Norman Morrice becomes director of The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Christopher Bruce’s Cruel Garden by Ballet Rambert

London City Ballet founded by Harold King

First seaon of Dance Umbrella Festival under Val Bourne

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling by The Royal Ballet

John Field becomes director of London Festival Ballet

London Festival Ballet dances Peter Schaufuss’ production of La Sylphide for the first time

Explore all content from 1980s

Explore

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Gloria by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Peter Darrell’s Chéri by Scottish Ballet

Phoenix Dance Company established

Robert North becomes director of Rambert Dance

Premiere of Richard Alston’s Soda Lake at Riverside Studios

Premiere of Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances by Ballet Rambert

Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet dances Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s new production of Swan Lake

Premiere of Robert North’s Pribaoutki by Ballet Rambert

Premiere of Michael Corder’s L’Invitation au Voyage by The Royal Ballet

Second Stride founded by Siobhan Davies, Ian Spink and Richard Alston

Premiere of David Bintley’s The Swan of Tuonela by Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet

Dance East established

London Festival Ballet performs John Cranko’s Onegin for the first time

Michael Clark Company established

Peter Schaufuss becomes director of London Festival Ballet

Ballet Cymru established under Darius James

DV8 Physical Theatre established by Lloyd Newson

Anthony Dowell becomes director of The Royal Ballet

Matthew Bourne’s Adventures in Motion Pictures established

Premiere of Richard Alston’s Pulcinella by Ballet Rambert

Christopher Gable joins Northern Ballet Theatre as dancer and then artistic director of Northern Ballet Theatre

Ballet Rambert renamed Rambert Dance Company

Premiere of Christopher Bruce’s Swansong by London Festival Ballet

Stage premiere of Gillian Lynne’s A Simple Man by Northern Ballet Theatre

Siobhan Davies Dance founded

National Youth Ballet established

Premiere of David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Ashley Page’s Soldat by Rambert Dance Company

London Festival (Now English National) Ballet School established

London Festival Ballet renamed English National Ballet

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s The Prince of Pagodas by The Royal Ballet

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company opened

Explore all content from 1990s

Explore

Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet renamed Birmingham Royal Ballet

Irek Mukhamedov joins The Royal Ballet

Ivan Nagy becomes director of English National Ballet

Candoco Dance Company

Premiere of Massimo Moricone’s of Romeo and Juliet by Northern Ballet Theatre

Galina Samsova becomes director of Scottish Ballet

A Chance to Dance programme established

Premiere of Kenneth MacMillan’s Winter Dreams by The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet performs William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated for the first time

1992 – Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance established (now Company Wayne McGregor)

Derek Deane becomes director of English National Ballet

Richard Alston Dance Company opened

Premiere of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake by Adventures in Motion Pictures

David Bintley becomes director of Birmingham Royal Ballet

Premiere of David Bintley’s Carmina Burana by Birmingham Royal Ballet

ballet.co website launched

The Duchy Ballet established

The first Royal Albert Hall ballet-in-the-round mounted

New premises for dance companies

Yorke Dance Project founded

Carlos Acosta joins The Royal Ballet

Robert North becomes director of Scottish Ballet

The BalletBoyz established

Explore all content from 2000s

Explore

Akram Khan Dance Company founded

First Young British Dancer of the Year competition held

Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black founded

David Nixon becomes artistic director of Northern Ballet Theatre

Ross Stretton becomes director of The Royal Ballet

Matz Skoog becomes director of English National Ballet

Premiere of Christopher Hampson’s Double Concerto by English National Ballet

Premiere of David Nixon’s Wuthering Heights by Northern Ballet Theatre

Monica Mason becomes director of The Royal Ballet

Ashley Page becomes director of Scottish Ballet

The National Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) established

Wayne Eagling becomes director of English National Ballet

Premiere of Hofesh Shechter’s Uprising by the Hofesh Shechter Company

Premiere of Wayne McGregor’s Chroma by The Royal Ballet

Explore all content from 2010s

Explore

New English Ballet Theatre established

Premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Asphodel Meadows by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Arthur Pita’s The Metamorphosis at the Linbury Theatre

Premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by The Royal Ballet

Kevin O’Hare becomes director of The Royal Ballet

Tamara Rojo becomes director of English National Ballet

Christopher Hampson becomes director of Scottish Ballet

Alexander Whitley Dance Company established

Premiere of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works by The Royal Ballet

Premiere of Akram Khan’s Giselle by English National Ballet

Crystal Pite creates Flight Pattern for The Royal Ballet

Kenneth MacMillan Celebration

Explore all content from 2020s

Explore

Carlos Acosta becomes director of Birmingham Royal Ballet

Covid-19 Pandemic – a worldwide shut down and a public health emergency unlike any in living memory