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| {{Short description|British ballerina}} | |||
| ⚫ | {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} | ||
| ⚫ | {{Use British English|date=July 2019}} | ||
| {{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
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|name = Alicia Markova | ||
| ⚫ | |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DBE|sep=,|size=100%}} | ||
| |image_size = 200px | |||
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|image = Alicia Markova.jpg | ||
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|image_size = 200px | ||
| |caption = Alicia Markova in 1940 | |||
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| |birth_name = Lilian Alicia Marks | |||
| ⚫ | | |
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|birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|12|1|df=y}} | ||
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|birth_place = ], ], United Kingdom | ||
| ⚫ | |death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|12|2|1910|12|1|df=y}} | ||
| |nationality = ] | |||
| | |
|death_place = ], United Kingdom | ||
| ⚫ | |nationality = ] | ||
| ⚫ | |title = ] |
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| |occupation = Ballerina | |||
| ⚫ | |title = ] | ||
| }} | |||
| '''Dame Alicia Markova''' ] (1 December 1910 |
'''Dame Alicia Markova''' ] (1 December 1910 – 2 December 2004) was a British ] and a ], director and teacher of ]. Most noted for her career with ]'s ] and touring internationally, she was widely considered to be one of the greatest ] dancers of the twentieth century. She was the first ] dancer to become the principal dancer of a ballet company and, with ], is one of only two English dancers to be recognised as a ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615185604/http://www.rad.org.uk/DameAliciaMarkova.htm|date=15 June 2011}}, rad.org.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1478066/Dame-Alicia-Markova.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112075017/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1478066/Dame-Alicia-Markova.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2012|title=Dame Alicia Markova|work=The Telegraph|date=3 December 2004|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref><ref>] (eds, 1977). ''The Encyclopedia of Dance & Ballet''. Pitmans: London, UK, p. 228<!--ISBN/ISSN needed--></ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/03/arts.artsnews|title=Alicia Markova, influential prima ballerina, dies at 94|work=]|author=Higgins, Charlotte|author-link=Charlotte Higgins|date=3 December 2004|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref> Markova was a founder dancer of the ], ] and ], and was co-founder and director of the ]. | ||
| == |
==Early years== | ||
| ⚫ | Markova was born as '''Lilian Alicia Marks'''<ref>The UK's General Register Office confirms this as her name in its record of her birth (Name: MARKS, LILIAN ALICIA; Mother's Maiden Surname: BARRY; GRO Reference: 1910 D Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 351); other sources incorrectly assert she was born Lilian Alice Marks</ref> on 1 December 1910. Her father, Arthur, was ] by birth; her mother, Eileen (nee Barry), converted to Judaism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dame-alicia-markova-674993.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dame-alicia-markova-674993.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author=Nadine Meisner|title=Dame Alicia Markova|work=]|date=3 December 2004|access-date=2 July 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | ||
| The family lived in a two bedroom flat in ].<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/03/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries|title=Obituary: Dame Alicia Markova|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2004|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ===Early years=== | |||
| ⚫ | Markova was born as '''Lilian Alicia Marks'''<ref>The UK's General Register Office confirms this as her name in its record of her birth (Name: MARKS, LILIAN |
||
| ==Career== | |||
| Markova began to dance on medical advice to strengthen her weak limbs. She made her stage debut at age ten, performing the role of Salome in the pantomime '']'', for which she was billed as '''Little Alicia, the child Pavlova'''.<ref name= |
Markova began to dance on medical advice to strengthen her weak limbs. She made her stage debut at age ten, performing the role of Salome in the pantomime '']'', for which she was billed as '''Little Alicia, the child Pavlova'''.<ref name=guardian/> She began studying ballet with Princess ], a Russian ballerina living in London. Astafieva was a retired dancer of the ], a renowned ballet company founded by the impresario ]. Astafieva established the ''Russian Dancing Academy'' at The Pheasantry, King's Road, ], and was responsible for teaching a number of notable British dancers including ] and ]. A ] now marks the site of her former studio.<ref name=dolin/> | ||
| ===Diaghilev's Ballets Russes=== | ===Diaghilev's Ballets Russes=== | ||
| At the age of 13, Markova was observed in class by |
At the age of 13, Markova was observed in class by Diaghilev, who was visiting London in search of new talent for his ballet company. He invited her to join the ] in ], which she did in 1925, one month after her 14th birthday. Due to her age, she performed a number of roles which were specially choreographed for her, also performing in a varied repertoire of new and established ballets. Alongside the many notable dancers, during this period she encountered a number of leading 20th century figures who created work for the company including ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name=dolin/> | ||
| ===After Diaghilev=== | ===After Diaghilev=== | ||
| Following the death of Diaghilev in 1929, Markova returned to England, where she became the founder Principal Ballerina of ''The Ballet Club'', a company founded by Dame ]. During this period, she was particularly noted for performing works by ], who was unknown at the time, but would go on to become one of Britain's most celebrated choreographers. The Ballet Club was to be the first professional ballet company in the ], later becoming known as the ''Ballet Rambert''. Now known as the ], it remains the oldest established dance company in the UK.<ref name= |
Following the death of Diaghilev in 1929, Markova returned to England, where she became the founder Principal Ballerina of ''The Ballet Club'', a company founded by Dame ]. During this period, she was particularly noted for performing works by ], who was unknown at the time, but would go on to become one of Britain's most celebrated choreographers. The Ballet Club was to be the first professional ballet company in the ], later becoming known as the ''Ballet Rambert''. Now known as the ], it remains the oldest established dance company in the UK.<ref name=balletcouk2/> | ||
| In 1931, ] founded the ''Vic-Wells Ballet'' in premises at ] theatre in London. A former colleague from Diaghilev's company, she invited Markova to join the company as one of its founder dancers, which she did, forming a famous partnership with ]. De Valois hired ], who became the resident choreographer and later Artistic Director of the company. In 1933, de Valois appointed Markova as the first Prima Ballerina of the company, which is now the internationally renowned ].<ref name= |
In 1931, ] founded the ''Vic-Wells Ballet'' in premises at ] theatre in London. A former colleague from Diaghilev's company, she invited Markova to join the company as one of its founder dancers, which she did, forming a famous partnership with ]. De Valois hired ], who became the resident choreographer and later Artistic Director of the company. In 1933, de Valois appointed Markova as the first Prima Ballerina of the company, which is now the internationally renowned ].<ref name=dolin/> | ||
| It was after seeing the Camargo Society performance of '']'' with ] and Dolin in 1932 that Markova first realized the possibilities of the then-neglected ballet. |
It was after seeing the Camargo Society performance of '']'' with ] and Dolin in 1932 that Markova first realized the possibilities of the then-neglected ballet. In time it became her most treasured role and the one whose expressive possibilities she continued to develop throughout her career. Her premiere in the role was on New Year's Day 1934 at the Vic.<ref name="dolin">, nla.gov.au; accessed 17 May 2014.</ref><ref name="balletcouk2"/> | ||
| In 1935, Markova and Dolin left the Vic-Wells ballet to form their own touring company known as the ''Markova-Dolin Company''. The company toured extensively for two seasons and in 1936 ] joined the company as ]. Later in 1938 Markova joined the ], touring the world as the company's star ballerina. The company was the first to tour ballet throughout the United States, taking the art form to audiences who had never seen ballet before. During this time, she was a key figure in the formation of the ], dancing with the company during its early years.<ref name="dolin"/> | In 1935, Markova and Dolin left the Vic-Wells ballet to form their own touring company known as the ''Markova-Dolin Company''. The company toured extensively for two seasons and in 1936 ] joined the company as ]. Later in 1938 Markova joined the ], touring the world as the company's star ballerina. The company was the first to tour ballet throughout the United States, taking the art form to audiences who had never seen ballet before. During this time, she was a key figure in the formation of the ], dancing with the company during its early years.<ref name="dolin"/> | ||
| ], commissioned from ] for the American Ballet Theatre (1941)]] | |||
| ]", 1948]] | ]", 1948]] | ||
| Markova appeared in ballets around the world, but is remembered mostly for her '']'', as well as for '']'' and '']''. During the ] she re-formed ''Les Ballets Russes'' in the ] and appeared as a dancer with Dolin in the ] film, '']''.<ref name= |
Markova appeared in ballets around the world, but is remembered mostly for her '']'', as well as for '']'' and '']''. During the ] she re-formed ''Les Ballets Russes'' in the ] and appeared as a dancer with Dolin in the ] film, '']''.<ref name=dolin/> | ||
| ===English National Ballet=== | ===English National Ballet=== | ||
| In 1950, Markova and Dolin became the co-founders of the ''Festival Ballet'', a company formed to celebrate the imminent ] and backed by the Polish businessman Julian Brunsweg. Dolin was to be the company's first Artistic Director, with Markova as Prima Ballerina. The company was formed to tour ballets to audiences that would otherwise be unable to experience ballet, and went on to tour extensively to less conventional venues both in the United Kingdom and internationally. It also established a number of educational programmes designed to make ballet accessible to new audiences. She remained the Prima ballerina until 1952, after which she continued to appear regularly as a guest dancer until her retirement from professional dancing.<ref>{{cite news |title=MARKOVA DANCES IN 'FLEDERMAUS' / She Is First Major Ballerina to Appear in Regular Opera at 'Met' Performance|work=]|author= |
In 1950, Markova and Dolin became the co-founders of the ''Festival Ballet'', a company formed to celebrate the imminent ] and backed by the Polish businessman Julian Brunsweg. Dolin was to be the company's first Artistic Director, with Markova as Prima Ballerina. The company was formed to tour ballets to audiences that would otherwise be unable to experience ballet, and went on to tour extensively to less conventional venues both in the United Kingdom and internationally. It also established a number of educational programmes designed to make ballet accessible to new audiences. She remained the Prima ballerina until 1952, after which she continued to appear regularly as a guest dancer until her retirement from professional dancing.<ref>{{cite news |title=MARKOVA DANCES IN 'FLEDERMAUS' / She Is First Major Ballerina to Appear in Regular Opera at 'Met' Performance|work=]|author=Martin, John|author-link=John Martin (dance critic)|date=1 January 1954|access-date=17 February 2019| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/01/01/83743621.html?pageNumber=16}}</ref><ref name="dolin"/><ref name="balletcouk2"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226132411/http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_04/dec04/jp_obit_alicia_markova.htm |date=26 December 2005 }}, ballet.co.uk/magazines, 4 December 2004; accessed 17 May 2014.</ref> | ||
| In 1960, she collaborated with Indian classical dancer ] to create a duet "Radha-Krishna" based on ], in which she danced as ], while he danced as ]. Today their collaboration is commemorated at the ] where her bronze bust stands next to his portrait.<ref name=nytjack>{{cite news|title=Ram Gopal, Dancer Who Opened Western Eyes to India, Dies|author= |
In 1960, she collaborated with Indian classical dancer ] to create a duet "Radha-Krishna" based on ], in which she danced as ], while he danced as ]. Today their collaboration is commemorated at the ] where her bronze bust stands next to his portrait.<ref name=nytjack>{{cite news|title=Ram Gopal, Dancer Who Opened Western Eyes to India, Dies|author=Anderson, Jack|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/15/arts/ram-gopal-dancer-is-dead-opened-western-eyes-to-india.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=15 October 2003|access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=tele>{{cite news|title=Obituary for Ram Gopal|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1444926/Ram-Gopal.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 October 2003}}</ref> In 1989, the Festival Ballet was renamed ''English National Ballet'' to reflect the company's role as Britain's only classical ballet company dedicated to touring ballets nationwide at an affordable price for audiences.<ref name=guardian/> | ||
| ].]] | ].]] | ||
| ===Retirement=== | ===Retirement=== | ||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| Markova retired from professional dancing in January 1963 at the age of 52. Following her retirement, she continued to play an active role in the ballet and theatre industry as a teacher, director and choreographer. She was responsible for staging a number of ballets that she had performed with the Ballets Russes, also coaching dancers for roles she had created for choreographers such as Sir ].<ref name="balletcouk1"/> | Markova retired from professional dancing in January 1963 at the age of 52. Following her retirement, she continued to play an active role in the ballet and theatre industry as a teacher, director and choreographer. She was responsible for staging a number of ballets that she had performed with the Ballets Russes, also coaching dancers for roles she had created for choreographers such as Sir ].<ref name="balletcouk1"/> | ||
| Line 51: | Line 58: | ||
| As a teacher she presented televised master classes and was also appointed Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts at the ]. In her later years, she continued to be a regular member of the teaching faculty for residential ballet courses such as the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars and the Abingdon Ballet Seminars, and was also President and a regular guest teacher at the Arts Educational Schools in ] and ]. She was also a governor and regular guest teacher at the ].<ref name="balletcouk2"/> | As a teacher she presented televised master classes and was also appointed Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts at the ]. In her later years, she continued to be a regular member of the teaching faculty for residential ballet courses such as the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars and the Abingdon Ballet Seminars, and was also President and a regular guest teacher at the Arts Educational Schools in ] and ]. She was also a governor and regular guest teacher at the ].<ref name="balletcouk2"/> | ||
| She was the subject of '']'' on two occasions, in January 1960 when she was surprised by ] at the ], and in October 1995, when ] surprised her at London's ]. Markova was Patron/President |
She was the subject of '']'' on two occasions, in January 1960 when she was surprised by ] at the ],{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} and in October 1995, when ] surprised her at London's ].{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Markova was Patron/President of numerous dance organisations, including serving as President of ], a Governor of ] and vice President of the ].<ref name="balletcouk1"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025030535/http://www.ballet.co.uk/old/legend_js_alicia_markova.htm |date=25 October 2005 }}, Ballet.co.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.</ref> | ||
| ===Death=== | ===Death=== | ||
| Some time after suffering a stroke, Markova died on 2 December 2004 in a hospital in Bath, one day after her 94th birthday. She never married. A funeral service was held at Bath's Haycombe Crematorium. A memorial service of thanksgiving for her life and work was held at ] on 8 March 2005.<ref name= |
Some time after suffering a stroke, Markova died on 2 December 2004 in a hospital in Bath, one day after her 94th birthday. She never married. A funeral service was held at Bath's Haycombe Crematorium. A memorial service of thanksgiving for her life and work was held at ] on 8 March 2005.<ref name=gallery/> | ||
| As part of the service, dancers of the ] company performed extracts from the ballet '']'' (], Dmitri Gruzdyev, ], Arionel Vargas) and '']'' (Agnes Oakes and ]).<ref name= |
As part of the service, dancers of the ] company performed extracts from the ballet '']'' (], Dmitri Gruzdyev, ], Arionel Vargas) and '']'' (Agnes Oakes and ]).<ref name=gallery> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003121508/http://www.ballet.co.uk/gallery/jr_enb_markova_abbey_0305/jr_enb_abbey_klimentova_gruzdyev_500|date=3 October 2012}}, ballet.co.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.</ref> | ||
| ==Awards |
==Awards and honours== | ||
| *'''1957''' - Dance Magazine Award | *'''1957''' - Dance Magazine Award | ||
| *'''1957''' - Woman of the Year Award (American Women's Organisation) | *'''1957''' - Woman of the Year Award (American Women's Organisation) | ||
| Line 73: | Line 80: | ||
| {{col-begin}} | {{col-begin}} | ||
| {{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
| * |
*Co-Founder and President, ] | ||
| * |
*Governor, ] | ||
| * |
*Vice President, ] | ||
| * |
*President, The London Ballet Circle | ||
| * |
*Patron, The Academy of Indian Dance | ||
| * |
*President, All England Dance Association | ||
| * |
*President, ] | ||
| * |
*President, ] | ||
| {{col-break}} | {{col-break}} | ||
| * |
*Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts, College-Conservatory of Music, ] | ||
| * |
*Patron, Friends of ] | ||
| * |
*Patron, Abingdon Ballet Seminars | ||
| * |
*Honorary President, ANCEC (Associazione Nationale Coreutica Enrico Cecchetti) | ||
| * |
*Patron, ] | ||
| * |
*Director, Metropolitan Opera Ballet 1963–69 | ||
| {{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
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| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| ;Notes | ;Notes | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist|2}} | ||
| ;Bibliography | ;Bibliography | ||
| * |
* | ||
| * |
* | ||
| * |
* | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| {{Commons category|Alicia Markova}} | {{Commons category|Alicia Markova}} | ||
| *, michaelminn.net; accessed 17 May 2014 | *, michaelminn.net; accessed 17 May 2014 | ||
| *; accessed 17 May 2014 | *; accessed 17 May 2014 | ||
| *{{YouTube|cl8qskS2ZIM|Alicia Markova dances - actual clip}} | *{{YouTube|cl8qskS2ZIM|Alicia Markova dances - actual clip}} | ||
| *, ''English National Ballet'' website; accessed 17 May 2014 | *, ''English National Ballet'' website; accessed 17 May 2014 | ||
| *, '']'', 4 December 2004 | *, '']'', 4 December 2004 | ||
| *; accessed 17 May 2014 | |||
| {{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
| ⚫ | {{Use dmy dates|date= |
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| ⚫ | {{Use British English|date= |
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Markova, Alicia}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Markova, Alicia}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 00:56, 7 November 2024
British ballerina
| DameAlicia MarkovaDBE | |
|---|---|
 Alicia Markova in 1940 | |
| Born | Lilian Alicia Marks (1910-12-01)1 December 1910 Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 2 December 2004(2004-12-02) (aged 94) Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Ballerina |
| Title | Prima ballerina assoluta |
Dame Alicia Markova DBE (1 December 1910 – 2 December 2004) was a British ballerina and a choreographer, director and teacher of classical ballet. Most noted for her career with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and touring internationally, she was widely considered to be one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the twentieth century. She was the first British dancer to become the principal dancer of a ballet company and, with Dame Margot Fonteyn, is one of only two English dancers to be recognised as a prima ballerina assoluta. Markova was a founder dancer of the Rambert Dance Company, The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and was co-founder and director of the English National Ballet.
Early years
Markova was born as Lilian Alicia Marks on 1 December 1910. Her father, Arthur, was Jewish by birth; her mother, Eileen (nee Barry), converted to Judaism.
The family lived in a two bedroom flat in Finsbury Park.
Career
Markova began to dance on medical advice to strengthen her weak limbs. She made her stage debut at age ten, performing the role of Salome in the pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat, for which she was billed as Little Alicia, the child Pavlova. She began studying ballet with Princess Serafina Astafieva, a Russian ballerina living in London. Astafieva was a retired dancer of the Ballets Russes, a renowned ballet company founded by the impresario Sergei Diaghilev. Astafieva established the Russian Dancing Academy at The Pheasantry, King's Road, Chelsea, and was responsible for teaching a number of notable British dancers including Margot Fonteyn and Anton Dolin. A blue plaque now marks the site of her former studio.
Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
At the age of 13, Markova was observed in class by Diaghilev, who was visiting London in search of new talent for his ballet company. He invited her to join the Ballets Russes in Monte Carlo, which she did in 1925, one month after her 14th birthday. Due to her age, she performed a number of roles which were specially choreographed for her, also performing in a varied repertoire of new and established ballets. Alongside the many notable dancers, during this period she encountered a number of leading 20th century figures who created work for the company including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Léonide Massine, George Balanchine, and Bronislava Nijinska.
After Diaghilev
Following the death of Diaghilev in 1929, Markova returned to England, where she became the founder Principal Ballerina of The Ballet Club, a company founded by Dame Marie Rambert. During this period, she was particularly noted for performing works by Frederick Ashton, who was unknown at the time, but would go on to become one of Britain's most celebrated choreographers. The Ballet Club was to be the first professional ballet company in the United Kingdom, later becoming known as the Ballet Rambert. Now known as the Rambert Dance Company, it remains the oldest established dance company in the UK.
In 1931, Ninette de Valois founded the Vic-Wells Ballet in premises at Sadler's Wells theatre in London. A former colleague from Diaghilev's company, she invited Markova to join the company as one of its founder dancers, which she did, forming a famous partnership with Anton Dolin. De Valois hired Frederick Ashton, who became the resident choreographer and later Artistic Director of the company. In 1933, de Valois appointed Markova as the first Prima Ballerina of the company, which is now the internationally renowned Royal Ballet.
It was after seeing the Camargo Society performance of Giselle with Olga Spessivtseva and Dolin in 1932 that Markova first realized the possibilities of the then-neglected ballet. In time it became her most treasured role and the one whose expressive possibilities she continued to develop throughout her career. Her premiere in the role was on New Year's Day 1934 at the Vic.
In 1935, Markova and Dolin left the Vic-Wells ballet to form their own touring company known as the Markova-Dolin Company. The company toured extensively for two seasons and in 1936 Prince Wolkonsky joined the company as ballet master. Later in 1938 Markova joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, touring the world as the company's star ballerina. The company was the first to tour ballet throughout the United States, taking the art form to audiences who had never seen ballet before. During this time, she was a key figure in the formation of the American Ballet Theatre, dancing with the company during its early years.
Markova appeared in ballets around the world, but is remembered mostly for her Giselle, as well as for The Dying Swan and Les Sylphides. During the Second World War she re-formed Les Ballets Russes in the United States and appeared as a dancer with Dolin in the Hollywood film, A Song for Miss Julie.
English National Ballet
In 1950, Markova and Dolin became the co-founders of the Festival Ballet, a company formed to celebrate the imminent Festival of Britain and backed by the Polish businessman Julian Brunsweg. Dolin was to be the company's first Artistic Director, with Markova as Prima Ballerina. The company was formed to tour ballets to audiences that would otherwise be unable to experience ballet, and went on to tour extensively to less conventional venues both in the United Kingdom and internationally. It also established a number of educational programmes designed to make ballet accessible to new audiences. She remained the Prima ballerina until 1952, after which she continued to appear regularly as a guest dancer until her retirement from professional dancing.
In 1960, she collaborated with Indian classical dancer Ram Gopal to create a duet "Radha-Krishna" based on Hindu mythology, in which she danced as Radha, while he danced as Krishna. Today their collaboration is commemorated at the National Portrait Gallery, London where her bronze bust stands next to his portrait. In 1989, the Festival Ballet was renamed English National Ballet to reflect the company's role as Britain's only classical ballet company dedicated to touring ballets nationwide at an affordable price for audiences.
Retirement
Markova retired from professional dancing in January 1963 at the age of 52. Following her retirement, she continued to play an active role in the ballet and theatre industry as a teacher, director and choreographer. She was responsible for staging a number of ballets that she had performed with the Ballets Russes, also coaching dancers for roles she had created for choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton.
As a teacher she presented televised master classes and was also appointed Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts at the University of Cincinnati. In her later years, she continued to be a regular member of the teaching faculty for residential ballet courses such as the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars and the Abingdon Ballet Seminars, and was also President and a regular guest teacher at the Arts Educational Schools in London and Tring. She was also a governor and regular guest teacher at the Royal Ballet School.
She was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions, in January 1960 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Royal Festival Hall, and in October 1995, when Michael Aspel surprised her at London's Royal Opera House. Markova was Patron/President of numerous dance organisations, including serving as President of English National Ballet, a Governor of The Royal Ballet and vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance.
Death
Some time after suffering a stroke, Markova died on 2 December 2004 in a hospital in Bath, one day after her 94th birthday. She never married. A funeral service was held at Bath's Haycombe Crematorium. A memorial service of thanksgiving for her life and work was held at Westminster Abbey on 8 March 2005.
As part of the service, dancers of the English National Ballet company performed extracts from the ballet Giselle (Daria Klimentová, Dmitri Gruzdyev, Erina Takahashi, Arionel Vargas) and Les Sylphides (Agnes Oakes and Simone Clarke).
Awards and honours
- 1957 - Dance Magazine Award
- 1957 - Woman of the Year Award (American Women's Organisation)
- 1958 - CBE, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1963 - DBE, Dame Commander of Order of the British Empire
- 1963 - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, Royal Academy of Dance
- 1966 - DMus, Honorary Doctorate of Music, Leicester University
- 1982 - MusD, Honorary Doctorate of Music, University of East Anglia
- 1994 - Evening Standard Special Award
- 2000 - Cecchetti D'Argento Award, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
- 2001 - DUniv, Honorary Doctor of the University, Middlesex University
Positions
|
|
See also
References
- Notes
- Dame Alicia Markova Royal Academy of Dance article Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, rad.org.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.
- "Dame Alicia Markova". The Telegraph. 3 December 2004. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- Mary Clarke and David Vaughan (eds, 1977). The Encyclopedia of Dance & Ballet. Pitmans: London, UK, p. 228
- Higgins, Charlotte (3 December 2004). "Alicia Markova, influential prima ballerina, dies at 94". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- The UK's General Register Office confirms this as her name in its record of her birth (Name: MARKS, LILIAN ALICIA; Mother's Maiden Surname: BARRY; GRO Reference: 1910 D Quarter in HACKNEY Volume 01B Page 351); other sources incorrectly assert she was born Lilian Alice Marks
- Nadine Meisner (3 December 2004). "Dame Alicia Markova". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Obituary: Dame Alicia Markova". The Guardian. 3 December 2004. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin: a legend of British ballet: a collection of portraits", with foreword by Peter Williams, nla.gov.au; accessed 17 May 2014.
- ^ Dame Alicia Markova obituary Archived 26 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine, ballet.co.uk/magazines, 4 December 2004; accessed 17 May 2014.
- Martin, John (1 January 1954). "MARKOVA DANCES IN 'FLEDERMAUS' / She Is First Major Ballerina to Appear in Regular Opera at 'Met' Performance". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- Anderson, Jack (15 October 2003). "Ram Gopal, Dancer Who Opened Western Eyes to India, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Obituary for Ram Gopal". The Daily Telegraph. 24 October 2003.
- ^ Markova profile Archived 25 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Ballet.co.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.
- ^ "Markova Memorial - Westminster Abbey" Archived 3 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, ballet.co.uk; accessed 17 May 2014.
- Bibliography
- "Alicia Markova" by Hugh Fisher
- "Markova: a collection of photographic studies by Gordon Anthony"; foreword by Dame Ninette de Valois
- "Markova: her life and art", by Sir Anton Dolin, 1953
External links
- Andros on Ballet profile of Alicia Markova, michaelminn.net; accessed 17 May 2014
- London Ballet Circle website; accessed 17 May 2014
- Alicia Markova dances - actual clip on YouTube
- Profile, English National Ballet website; accessed 17 May 2014
- Obituary: Dame Alicia Markova Brilliant prima ballerina, Yorkshire Post, 4 December 2004
- 1910 births
- 2004 deaths
- English Jews
- Jewish dancers
- English National Ballet
- Ballets Russes dancers
- Dancers of The Royal Ballet
- Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo dancers
- English ballerinas
- Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Finsbury Park
- Prima ballerina assolutas
- Rambert Dance Company dancers
- 20th-century British ballet dancers