Bedells, Phyllis (1893–1985)

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Bedells, Phyllis (1893–1985)

English dancer. Born Aug 9, 1893, in Bristol, England; died May 2, 1985, in London; trained with Theodore Gilmer in Nottingham, then with Malvina Cavallazzi at the Empire Theatre; also studied with Alexander Genée, Nicholas Legat, Enrico Cecchetti and Adolf Bolm; m. Ian Gordon Macbean.

Made stage debut as First Oyster in Alice in Wonderland (1906); appeared at the Empire (1907–15), in such productions as The Debutante, The Bell of the Ball, Ship Ahoy! and Watch Your Step, before succeeding Adeline Genée as première danseuse (1914); other appearances include Pastoral, The Dancing Master, Razzle-Dazzle, Zig-Zag, Smile and Johnny Jones and His Sister Sue; often appeared in variety theaters with Anton Dolin, as well as at the Palladium with her own company; retired from stage (1935) and turned to teaching; was one of the founders of Royal Academy of Dancing.

See also autobiography My Dancing Days (1954).