Monica Mason
Encyclopedia
Dame Monica Mason DBE
(born 6 September 1941) is a ballet dancer and has been the director of The Royal Ballet, since 2002.
.
, Calliope Rag in Elite Syncopations, Summer in The Four Seasons and the Midwife in Rituals for her.
Mason was also given the role of the Chosen Maiden in The Rite of Spring
that had been originally created by Diaghilev for Lydia Sokolova
in the 1920s. Her last leading role was as Nursey in Isadora by Kenneth MacMillan
, in 1981, although she continued to appear in mime roles as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet for some time after that.
to the company. In 1991 she became Assistant Director of the company under Sir Anthony Dowell. Following the company's move to its new headquarters at the Royal Opera House
in London
's Covent Garden
, Mason replaced Dowell's successor, Ross Stretton, as Director in late 2002.
She recently announced her retirement and will leave The Royal Ballet in August 2012
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...
(born 6 September 1941) is a ballet dancer and has been the director of The Royal Ballet, since 2002.
Early life
Monica Margaret Mason was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1941. A talented dancer, she moved to Britain at the age of 14 to join the Royal Ballet SchoolRoyal 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...
.
Royal Ballet
At the age of 16 Mason joined the Royal Ballet as the Company's youngest member, and became a principal dancer in 1968. She worked closely with the choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan, who created the roles of Lescaut's Mistress in ManonL'histoire de Manon
L'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...
, Calliope Rag in Elite Syncopations, Summer in The Four Seasons and the Midwife in Rituals for her.
Mason was also given the role of the Chosen Maiden in The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
that had been originally created by Diaghilev for Lydia Sokolova
Lydia Sokolova
Lydia Sokolova was an English ballerina. She trained at the Stedman Ballet Academy and learned from such luminaries as Anna Pavlova and Enrico Cecchetti....
in the 1920s. Her last leading role was as Nursey in Isadora by Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan
Sir 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:...
, in 1981, although she continued to appear in mime roles as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet for some time after that.
Administrator
Following her retirement as a principal dancer, Mason continued to work for the Royal Ballet company and in 1984 she was appointed Principal RépétiteurRépétiteur
Répétiteur , repetitore , or Korrepetitor / Repetitor , originally from the French verb répéter meaning "to repeat, to go over, to learn, to rehearse"....
to the company. In 1991 she became Assistant Director of the company under Sir Anthony Dowell. Following the company's move to its new headquarters at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, Mason replaced Dowell's successor, Ross Stretton, as Director in late 2002.
She recently announced her retirement and will leave The Royal Ballet in August 2012