Royal Ballet Exhibitions

Discover the history of The Royal Ballet, home of such famous names as Dame Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Markova, and Darcey Bussell.

Principal Ballerina Mara Galeazzi

BALLET FANS HAVE two treats to enjoy starting this autumn. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, in South Kensington, is staging a major exhibition about one of the world’s most influential impresarios, Diaghilev and, in Salford, the Royal Opera House and The Lowry, Salford are collaborating on Invitation to the Ballet: Ninette de Valois and the story of The Royal Ballet.

Ninette de Valois in 1914

Running from 22 October 2010 to 6 March 2011, this retrospective exhibition tells the story of The Royal Ballet from its foundation in the late 1920s to the present day. It pays tribute to the company’s founder, Ninette de Valois, a young Irish dancer who started her career impersonating Anna Pavlova in English seaside pier theatres.

Highlights of the exhibition include a selection of material from De Valois’ own ballets including Checkmate, The Rake’s Progress, Job and Don Quixote, and a recreation of Margot Fonteyn’s dressing room as it was at the Royal Opera House with her make-up cases, mascot, shoe darning kit, practice clothes, spare shoe ribbons and the Odette tutu from the 1952 production of Swan Lake.

Over 40 items of historic costumes will be displayed including those worn by Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Robert Helpmann, Beryl Grey, Michael Somes, Lynn Seymour, Christopher Gable, Anya Linden, Nadia Nerina, Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell, Monica Mason, Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope. A large number of never seen before photographs of The Royal Ballet taken over its 80 year history and including many rehearsal and backstage images are also featured.


The exhibition 
will also illustrate artist LS Lowry’s involvement with ballet in Britain and how his appreciation of art, music and dance affected his work.  A highlight of The Lowry’s 10th anniversary year, this exhibition will include some unseen Lowry drawings which are thought to have been influenced by his love of ballet.


Margot Fonteyn and Rudloph Nureyev

In addition to the exhibition, the Royal Opera House will present Pleasure’s Progress, the latest ROH2 commission by director and choreographer Will Tuckett, on 22 and 23 October 2010 in The Studio at The Lowry.

The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester; tel: 0843 2086005; 
www.thelowry.com.