Pamela May
(1917-2005), Ballet dancerSitter in 3 portraits
A versatile dancer noted for the purity of her line, May joined the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1934. Her repertoire included Swanilde in Coppèlia, Myrtha in Giselle, the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty and, the epitome of her classical style, Odette/Odile and Aurora. She created the role of the Moon in Horoscope (1938), Mademoiselle Théodore in The Prospect Before Us (1940) and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (1948). In 1946 she was one of the six dancers on whom Ashton created his masterpiece Symphonic Variations. She taught at The Royal Ballet School from 1954 until her retirement in 1977.
'Sadlers Wells Ballet in Italy' (Ninette de Valois; Margot Fonteyn; Pamela May)
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1954
NPG x196076
Group on Avenue Raymond Poincaré in Paris
possibly by Sir (Henry) Ashley Clarke
vintage snapshot print, September-October 1948
NPG x136218
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