Pamela May
Encyclopedia
Pamela May OBE, was a Trinidad
born British
dancer and teacher of classical ballet
. Most noted as one of the earliest members The Royal Ballet, she was regarded as a versatile dancer; dancing all the established 19th century classical repertoire, and creating roles in new ballets by Ninette de Valois
and Frederick Ashton
. After retiring from professional ballet, she became a teacher at the Royal Ballet School
, and also served as vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dance
.
, Trinidad
, on May 30, 1917. Her parents were British, but had moved to the Caribbean for the purposes of her fathers work as an oil engineer. The family returned to London when May was 4 years old.
May began studying ballet with Freda Grant. At the age of 16, she progressed to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, where she studied under the direction of Ninette de Valois
. A year later in 1934, she made her debut with the Vic-Wells Ballet and was later contracted as a salaried member of the company. It was also around this time that she adopted the professional name Pamela May, after de Valois announced in rehearsal, that a role she was to perform could not be danced by someone named Doris. Her new name was printed in the programme for the ballet without her knowledge.
May performed as a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet until 1952. At that time she became a character dancer and continued performing with the company until she retired from the stage completely in 1982. After she retired as a principal dancer, de Valois invited May to become a teacher at the Royal Ballet School
, a position which she held from 1954 until 1977.
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dancer and teacher of classical ballet
Classical ballet
Classical Ballet is the most formal of the ballet styles, it adheres to traditional ballet technique. There are variations relating to area of origin, such as Russian ballet, French ballet, British ballet and Italian ballet...
. Most noted as one of the earliest members The Royal Ballet, she was regarded as a versatile dancer; dancing all the established 19th century classical repertoire, and creating roles in new ballets by Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
and Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir 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...
. After retiring from professional ballet, she became a teacher 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...
, and also served as vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dance
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
.
Biography
Pamela May was born Doris May, in the city of San FernandoSan Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, on May 30, 1917. Her parents were British, but had moved to the Caribbean for the purposes of her fathers work as an oil engineer. The family returned to London when May was 4 years old.
May began studying ballet with Freda Grant. At the age of 16, she progressed to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, where she studied under the direction of Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
. A year later in 1934, she made her debut with the Vic-Wells Ballet and was later contracted as a salaried member of the company. It was also around this time that she adopted the professional name Pamela May, after de Valois announced in rehearsal, that a role she was to perform could not be danced by someone named Doris. Her new name was printed in the programme for the ballet without her knowledge.
May performed as a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet until 1952. At that time she became a character dancer and continued performing with the company until she retired from the stage completely in 1982. After she retired as a principal dancer, de Valois invited May to become a teacher 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...
, a position which she held from 1954 until 1977.
Created Roles
- Checkmate - The Red Queen - Choreographed by: Ninette de ValoisNinette de ValoisDame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
- Les PatineursLes Patineurs (ballet)Les patineurs is a ballet created in 1937 with choreography by Frederick Ashton, to the music of Giacomo Meyerbeer arranged by Constant Lambert, for the Vic-Wells company, with designs by William Chappell.-Performance history:...
- Girl in Red - Choreographed by: 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... - A Wedding Boquet - Violet - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton
- Horoscope - The Moon - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton
- Dante Sonata - Untitled Role - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton
- The Wanderer - Untitled Pas de Deux - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton
- The Prospect Before Us - Mlle Théodore - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois
- Orpheus and Eurydice - Eurydice - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois
- Symphonic Variations - Untitled Role - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton
- Don QuixoteDon Quixote (ballet)Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
- Golden Age Pas de Deux - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois - Bonne-Bouche - The Mother - Choreographed by: John CrankoJohn CrankoJohn Cyril Cranko was a choreographer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet....
Awards
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation AwardQueen Elizabeth II Coronation AwardThe Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award is an honour presented annually by the Royal Academy of Dance, to people who have made a significant contribution to the ballet and dance industry. The award was instituted by Dame Adeline Genee in 1953, to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and her...
- Awarded by the Royal Academy of DanceRoyal Academy of DanceThe Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
, 1976 - Officer of the Order of the British Empire - Appointed by HM Queen Elizabeth II, 1977