Menuhin, Diana (1912–2003)

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Menuhin, Diana (1912–2003)

English ballet dancer. Name variations: Lady Menuhin; Diana Gould. Born Diana Rosamond Constance Grace Irene Gould, Nov 12, 1912, in Belgravia, England; died Jan 25, 2003, in London, England; sister of Griselda Gould; sister-in-law of Hephzibah and Yaltah Menuhin; daughter-in-law of Marutha Menuhin; m. 2nd wife of Yehudi Menuhin (violinist), Oct 19, 1947 (died Mar 1999); children: 2 sons; 2 stepchildren.

Began career as a ballet dancer, making professional debut in a private recital in Norwich; danced with Marie Rambert company in early seasons, notably as the chief nymph in Nijinsky's L'Après-midi d'un faune and as Chiarina in Fokine's Le Carnaval; danced with George Ballanchine's Ballets in Paris and London (1933), then with the Markova-Dolin ballet; became lead dancer for the Arts Theatre Ballet (1940); guarded husband's talents and had an enormous impact on his career and causes.

See also autobiography Fiddler's Moll.