The choreographer and dancer Sir Kenneth MacMillan was born on 11 December 1929 in Dunfermline, Scotland and died in 1992 of a heart attack. Although a talented dancer himself MacMillan was always more comfortable in the role of choreographer. Hailing from a working class family he grew up in North Norfolk when his family moved there from Scotland. He first started dancing at the age of 12 and the naturally gifted dancer was accepted by the Sadler's Wells ballet as it was called then at the age of 15.
McMillan was a talented dancer, however he suffered from debilitating stage fright and found himself more comfortable in the role of choreographer. He instantly became noticed with the first two ballets he choreographed -Somnambulism in 1953 and Laiderette in 1954. Although, just starting out Macmillan's choreography showed distinctive accomplishment and as early as 1955 he was creating works for Sadler's Wells, second only to legendary choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton.
MacMillan went on to choreograph several short works for Sadler's Wells Ballet that were well received and gained him much respect. These included The Burrow (1958), The Invitation (1960), The Rite of Spring (1962) to name just a few. He was made the resident choreographer for Sadler's Wells in 1965.
In 1965 Macmillan achieved great success with his first full-length work, Romeo and Juliet. Performed in three acts, the ballet is considered to be one of his best-loved pieces and shortly after choreographing Romeo and Juliet Macmillan was made the resident choreographer for The Royal Ballet. After a fall out with The Royal Ballet in 1966 over his work Song of the Earth, Macmillan left to work as director of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin where he stayed from 1966-69.
Macmillan returned to the Royal Ballet as director in 1970 succeeding Sir Frederick Ashton where he continued to produce and choreograph another string of widely acclaimed ballets that include Anastasia in 1971, The Seven Deadly sins in 1973, Manon in 1974, Requiem in 1976, Isadora in 1981 and his final piece in 1992, just before his death, The Judas Tree. He resigned as director of the Royal Ballet in 1977 however but continued to work as their resident choreographer - the role he preferred and felt more comfortable with.
Macmillan had a reputation for producing works that were challenging, often dwelling on the darker side of life or confronting the gritty realisms of life. He was knighted in 1983 and died of a heart attack in 1992. Innovative and talented Macmillan's work still divides opinion to this day. - 42265
McMillan was a talented dancer, however he suffered from debilitating stage fright and found himself more comfortable in the role of choreographer. He instantly became noticed with the first two ballets he choreographed -Somnambulism in 1953 and Laiderette in 1954. Although, just starting out Macmillan's choreography showed distinctive accomplishment and as early as 1955 he was creating works for Sadler's Wells, second only to legendary choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton.
MacMillan went on to choreograph several short works for Sadler's Wells Ballet that were well received and gained him much respect. These included The Burrow (1958), The Invitation (1960), The Rite of Spring (1962) to name just a few. He was made the resident choreographer for Sadler's Wells in 1965.
In 1965 Macmillan achieved great success with his first full-length work, Romeo and Juliet. Performed in three acts, the ballet is considered to be one of his best-loved pieces and shortly after choreographing Romeo and Juliet Macmillan was made the resident choreographer for The Royal Ballet. After a fall out with The Royal Ballet in 1966 over his work Song of the Earth, Macmillan left to work as director of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin where he stayed from 1966-69.
Macmillan returned to the Royal Ballet as director in 1970 succeeding Sir Frederick Ashton where he continued to produce and choreograph another string of widely acclaimed ballets that include Anastasia in 1971, The Seven Deadly sins in 1973, Manon in 1974, Requiem in 1976, Isadora in 1981 and his final piece in 1992, just before his death, The Judas Tree. He resigned as director of the Royal Ballet in 1977 however but continued to work as their resident choreographer - the role he preferred and felt more comfortable with.
Macmillan had a reputation for producing works that were challenging, often dwelling on the darker side of life or confronting the gritty realisms of life. He was knighted in 1983 and died of a heart attack in 1992. Innovative and talented Macmillan's work still divides opinion to this day. - 42265
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