Sir Kenneth Macmillan (1929-1992), Choreographer

Sitter in 4 portraits
MacMillan joined Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet in 1946 and as a classical dancer was noted for his performance as Florestan in The Sleeping Beauty (1949). He became a choreographer in 1953 and produced Danses concertantes, commissioned by de Valois, in 1955. Director of the German Opera Ballet, 1966-1969 and The Royal Ballet, 1970-1977, he was knighted in 1983. As the Company's principal choreographer, his work expanded the conventions of classical ballet to encompass modern dramatic and psychological themes. His ballets include The Invitation (1960), The Rite of Spring (1962), Gloria (1980) and full evening works Romeo and Juliet (1965), Manon (1974) and Mayerling (1978).