Ninette de Valois
Founder of The Royal Ballet and godmother of English ballet.
She danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, later establishing The Royal Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century and one of the leading ballet companies in the world. She also established the Royal Ballet School and the touring company which became the Birmingham Royal Ballet. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet and as the 'godmother' of English and Irish ballet.
- field
- Ballet dancer, teacher, choreographer, director
- nationality
- Irish-born British
- known_for
- Establishing The Royal Ballet, the Royal Ballet School, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet
Lore & Background
At age thirteen she trained at the Lila Field Academy for Children, changed her name to Ninette de Valois, and made her professional debut as a principal dancer in pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre. She mentored Alicia Markova and later said she learned everything about running a ballet company from Diaghilev. After leaving in 1927, she established the Academy of Choreographic Art in London and the Abbey Theatre School of Ballet in Dublin. Her school moved to Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1931, becoming the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, and the Vic-Wells Ballet company formed, predecessors of today's Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Royal Ballet School.
Reader's Guide
Ninette de Valois's significance lies in her foundational role in creating a distinctly British ballet tradition. Her choreographic works, including Job, The Rake's Progress, and Checkmate, became staples of the repertory. She ensured a steady supply of talent through the Royal Ballet School, producing stars such as Margot Fonteyn, Robert Helpmann, and Rudolf Nureyev.
Did You Know?
- She changed her name from Edris Stannus to Ninette de Valois at age thirteen.
- She was a maternal great-granddaughter of diarist Elizabeth Grant Smith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ninette de Valois?
She was an Irish-born British dancer, choreographer, and teacher best known as the founding director of The Royal Ballet. Fans and scholars often call her the 'godmother of English ballet' for building classical dance into a national institution.
What major ballet companies did Ninette de Valois establish?
She founded The Royal Ballet, the Royal Ballet School, and the touring company that eventually became the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Together, those three organizations formed the backbone of British classical ballet in the twentieth century.
What was Ninette de Valois's connection to the Ballets Russes?
Before creating her own companies, she danced professionally in Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. That early immersion in the world's most celebrated touring troupe shaped her approach to staging and company management.
Why is Ninette de Valois considered so important in ballet history?
She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet because she transformed Britain from a peripheral dance market into a global leader. Her institutions still operate today and continue to produce world-class dancers and choreography.
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