Grey, Beryl (1927–)
Grey, Beryl (1927–)
English ballerina. Born Beryl Elizabeth Groom in Highgate, London, England, June 11, 1927; attended theater schools; early dance training with Madeleine Sharpe in Bromley; studied at Sadler's Wells Ballet school under Nicholas Sergevev, Ninette de Valois and Vera Volkova; m. Sven Svenson (Swedish osteopath), 1950; children: Ingvar.
One of Britain's most admired ballerinas, debuted as Odette/Odile in full-length Swan Lake on 15th birthday; subsequently danced nearly every major ballet role, including most all of the classical and modern ballets from Giselle to Ballet Imperial; also created many new roles, including the memorable Winter Fairy in Frederick Ashton's Cinderella; resigned from Royal Ballet (1957) to freelance; was the 1st foreign ballerina to be a guest artist with Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow (1957); was the 1st Western dancer to appear with Beijing (Peking) and Shanghai ballets (1964); was appointed director of Arts Educational School in London (1966); served as artistic director of London Festival Ballet (1968–80); also became a great favorite in Sweden, where she made regular guest appearances with Royal Swedish Ballet.
See also memoirs Red Curtain Up (1958) and Through the Bamboo Curtain (1966); David Gillard, Beryl Grey (1977).