David Drew (dancer)
Encyclopedia
David Drew MBE
, is an English ballet dancer and Principal Character Artist of the Royal Ballet
, before entering professional ballet training at the Royal Ballet School
. He has been a dancer with the Royal Ballet for the entire duration of his career, joining the company in 1955, and being promoted twice, to Soloist in 1961 and then to Principal in 1974. He retired from the Royal Ballet as a Principal dancer following the 2002/2003 season, but remained with the company as a Principal Character Artist and in recognition of his long service to the company, he also has the honorary title of Guest Artist. Drew is a teacher of pas de deux
at the Royal Ballet School
, the founder President of the Ballet Association, and in 2006, he was awarded the MBE
for services to dance. He is married to actress June Ritchie
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, is an English ballet dancer and Principal Character Artist of the Royal Ballet
Biography
Drew was born in London. He received his early training in dance at the Westbury School of Dancing in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, before entering professional ballet training at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
. He has been a dancer with the Royal Ballet for the entire duration of his career, joining the company in 1955, and being promoted twice, to Soloist in 1961 and then to Principal in 1974. He retired from the Royal Ballet as a Principal dancer following the 2002/2003 season, but remained with the company as a Principal Character Artist and in recognition of his long service to the company, he also has the honorary title of Guest Artist. Drew is a teacher of pas de deux
Pas de deux
In ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
, the founder President of the Ballet Association, and in 2006, he was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to dance. He is married to actress June Ritchie
June Ritchie
June Ritchie is a British actress. She is perhaps best known for starring in the role of Ingrid Rothwell opposite Alan Bates in the 1962 film adaptation of A Kind of Loving...
.
Created Roles
- The Captain in Different Drummer, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
- Colonel Middleton in MayerlingMayerling (ballet)Mayerling is a ballet created in 1978 by Kenneth MacMillan for the Royal Ballet, London.- Synopsis :Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria is forced into a marriage of state with Princess Stéphanie of Belgium; Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich, the mistress of whom he is tiring, introduces him to the...
, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:... - Demetrius in The DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream (ballet)A Midsummer Night's Dream is a two-act ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music for Shakespeare's play of the same name. In addition to the incidental music, Balanchine incorporated other Mendelssohn works into the ballet including Overtures to Athalie, Son...
, choreographed by Sir Frederick AshtonFrederick AshtonSir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at... - The Gaoler in L'histoire de ManonL'histoire de ManonL'histoire de Manon is a ballet comprising the music of Jules Massenet, arranged and partially orchestrated by British composer Leighton Lucas, re-orchestrated entirely by conductor Martin Yates in 2011...
, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:... - Giles in The CrucibleThe CrucibleThe Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists...
, choreography by William Tuckett - Grand Master in Rituals, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
- Max Merz in Isadora, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillanKenneth MacMillanSir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
Other Roles
- Anastasia - The Husband
- La Bayadere - The Rajah and The Brahmin
- Cinderella - Ugly Sister and Cinderella's Father
- Cyrano - de Guiche
- Don Quixote
- Enigma Variations - Nevinson
- The Firebird - Kostcheï
- Giselle - Hilarion and the Duke of Courtland
- Job - Satan
- Manon - Monsieur G.M.
- Marguerite and Armand - The Father
- Mayerling - Emperor Franz-Josef
- A Month in The CountryA Month in the Country (ballet)A Month in the Country is a narrative ballet created in 1976 with choreography by Frederick Ashton, to the music of Frédéric Chopin arranged by John Lanchbery...
- Yslaev - Petrushka - The Conjurer
- The Prince of the Pagodas - The Emperor's Chancelor
- Romeo and Juliet - Friar Laurence, Mercutio, Lord Capulet and Tybalt
- The Sleeping Beauty - Catalabutte and The King
- Swan Lake - Baron von Rothbart
- The Tales of Beatrix Potter - Mrs Pettitoes
- Winter Dreams - Doctor Chetbutkin