Ninette de Valois: Adventurous Traditionalist

The Royal Ballet School is to host a Conference to mark the 10th Anniversary of the death of the Founder of The Royal Ballet School and Companies, Dame Ninette de Valois OM, CH, DBE (1898 – 2001).

The Conference Committee will be chaired by Jane Pritchard, Curator of Dance, Theatre and Performance Collections at the V&A Museum.

This significant and wide-reaching event will be held over the first weekend of April, 2011; opening at the Royal Opera House, Clore Studio Upstairs on Friday 1 April (from 3pm); continuing at the Upper School, Floral Street, Covent Garden on 2 April, and concluding on 3 April at the Lower School, White Lodge, Richmond Park.

The aim of the Conference is to facilitate a rigorous and multi-disciplinary exploration of de Valois’ life and legacy, while promoting a productive exchange between dance practitioners, academics, social historians and cultural commentators, within the context of ballet and the wider theatre.

The Committee members are Prof. Elizabeth Schafer, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway College, London; Dr. Libby Worth, Senior Lecturer in Theatre Practice at Royal Holloway College, London; Kevin O’Hare, Administrative Director of The Royal Ballet; Derek Purnell, former Chief Executive of Birmingham Royal Ballet; Jay Jolley, Assistant Director of The Royal Ballet School; Anna Meadmore, Curator of White Lodge Museum and Royal Ballet School Collections.

Project Consultant, Kathryn Wade. Communications adviser, Jim Fletcher

Conference Programme