Ninette de Valois
(1898-2001), Founder and Director of the Royal Ballet; wife of Arthur Blackall ConnellDame Ninette de Valois (Edris Stannus)
Sitter in 27 portraits
Born in Ireland, Edris Stannus began her training with the Lila Field Academy for Children in London. She took the stage name Ninette de Valois and during the war danced at the Lyceum. In 1919 she became premiere danseuse at Covent Garden and she was a member of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes for two seasons, 1923-5. Resolved to form her own company, she established the Academy of Choreographic Art in 1926 and was engaged to arrange dances at the Old Vic. She founded the Vic-Wells Ballet (later The Royal Ballet) in 1931. Among the major ballets she created were Job (1931), The Rake's Progress (1935) and Checkmate (1937). She was made a Dame in 1951.
Sir Frederick Ashton; Ninette de Valois; Léonide Massine
by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1946
NPG P911
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on white card mount, November 1955
NPG P869(9)
by F.E. McWilliam
bronze head, 1964
On display in the Weston Wing Café at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4679
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 26 April 1977
NPG P1162
by Zsuzsi Roboz
charcoal, 1980
NPG 5426
by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 5 November 1991
NPG P1868
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 25 August 1920
NPG x83047
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18943
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18944
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18945
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18946
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18947
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 25 August 1920
NPG x18948
by Gordon Anthony
vintage bromide print, 1930s
NPG x194343
Ninette de Valois instructing pupils at Sadler's Wells Theatre
by James Jarché, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 5 September 1932
NPG x131115
Ninette de Valois instructing pupils at Sadler's Wells Theatre
by James Jarché, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 5 September 1932
NPG x131116
Ninette De Valois, Harold Turner and members of The English Ballet rehearsing Les Sylphides
by James Jarché
modern bromide print from original negative, 5 September 1932
NPG x88326
Ninette de Valois as the Peasant Woman in 'Barabau'
by Gordon Anthony
bromide print, 1936
NPG x129561
Ninette de Valois as the Peasant Woman in 'Barabau'
by Gordon Anthony
vintage print, 1936
NPG x137030
Violetta Elvin; Ninette de Valois; Margot Fonteyn
by Keystone Press Agency Ltd
bromide press print, 14 October 1954
NPG x184371
'Sadlers Wells Ballet in Italy' (Ninette de Valois; Margot Fonteyn; Pamela May)
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1954
NPG x196076
by Anne-Katrin Purkiss
bromide fibre print, February 1988
NPG x31694
by Cecil Beaton
pencil, late 1960s-early 1970s
NPG D17943(55)
by Sir (Henry) Ashley Clarke
vintage colour snapshot print, October 1954
NPG x136203
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