Ninette de Valois

Ninette de Valois (numele real EDRIS Stannus) este o dansatoare şi coregrafa născuta în Baltibouys (Irlanda) 06 iun 1898 şi a murit la Londra, pe 8 martie 2001.Ea a  început baletul la vârsta de zece ani, şi a fost observata pentru harul din mişcările sale. Ea a luat numele de Ninette de Valois în 1913. S-a retras în 1926 pentru a promova baletul in Europa. Ea a dansat profesional cu Serge Diaghilev  Ballets Russes , si mai târziu Royal Ballet , una dintre companiile de balet ale secolului 20. Ea a infiintat de asemenea, Birmingham Royal Ballet şi Royal Ballet School . Fiind unul dintre creatorii de balet britanic modern, ea este considerată pe scară largă ca fiind una dintre cele mai influente personalităţi din istoria de baletului.

De Valois was made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur of France in 1950, and was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1951, a Companion of Honour in 1982. In 1992 she was made a member of the Order of Merit.

Awards

Albert Medal, presented by the Royal Society of Arts (1964) 

Erasmus Prize, presented by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation (1974) 

Critics' Circle Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts (1989)

Dance Theatre of Harlem, Emergence Award (1981)

Irish Catholic Stage Guild, Bronze award presented for services to Ballet 

Laurence Olivier Award, Society of London Theatre Special Award (1992) 

Royal Opera House, long service medal (1979) 

Royal Academy of Dance, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award (1953–1954) 

An exceptional portrait, recorded two years before she died, this is the only existing personal account on film that she ever gave of her life and career. Ninette de Valois, Frederick Ashton, Robert Helpman and Rudolf Nureyev - the four most important people by her side - also contribute their own reminiscences to this truly fascinating life story. Numerous recordings of the prima ballerina dancing also allow us to experience her once more in some of her great roles.