May, Pamela (1917–2005)

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May, Pamela (1917–2005)

Trinidad-born ballet dancer. Name variations: Doris May. Born Doris May, May 30, 1917, in San Fernando, Trinidad, BWI; died June 6, 2005; dau. of Reginald Henry May and Hilda (Curtis) May; m. Painton Sidney Cowen (died); m. Charles Howard Gordon; children: (1st m.) son; (2nd m.) daughter.

Trained by Ninette de Valois at Sadler's Wells Ballet School; made stage debut in ballet Alice in Wonderland (1930); 1st soloed in the pas de trois in Swan Lake (1934); with Sadler's Wells appeared successfully in Orpheus and Eurydice, The Gods Go a'Begging, Les Patineurs, Checkmate (created role of Red Queen), The Prospect Before Us (created role of Mlle Theodore), Horoscope (created role of the Moon), Carnaval, Dante Sonata, The Sleeping Princess, Les Sylphides, Le Lac des Cygnes, Coppelia, Symphonic Variations (premiere), and Cinderella (created role of Fairy Godmother); appeared in the ballet sequence in film Escape Me Never; taught at Royal Ballet School for many years.