The RAD has received British choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s archive. MacMillan (1929–92) was the leading choreographer of his generation, creating world-renowned ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Gloria, Manon, Mayerling and Requiem. The archive comprises a diverse and rich range of material covering the personal, artistic and business archive of one of the most significant ballet figures of the 20th century.
The records span MacMillan’s life and career from his school days and early years as a dancer, through his career with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet/Royal Ballet as dancer, choreographer, Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer from 1977 until his death in 1992. He was also Director of Deutsche Oper Ballet Berlin (1966–69) and Artistic Associate of American Ballet Theatre and Houston Ballet (1984–89).
Speaking of the news, Dame Darcey Bussell, President of the RAD said: ‘There is no doubt that Kenneth’s creative genius contributed to the evolution of the art form of classical ballet. He put British ballet on the international map, drawing stars from around the world to work with him and perform his works. The RAD could not be more grateful to have the honour of holding Kenneth’s archive. With our state-of-the-art facilities, I know the RAD will preserve the archive superbly and offer access in an inclusive way in the years to come.’
Look
Dame Monica Mason, Vice President of the RAD and répétiteur to MacMillan, reflected: ‘Sir Kenneth MacMillan was a visionary choreographer whose work had a profound impact on the evolution of ballet. This archive is a wonderful legacy for the RAD to receive and will not only shed light on Sir Kenneth’s creative process but enrich our understanding of his life and the cultural context in which he worked.’
The archive – which includes photographs, diaries, and letters – paints a rich picture of MacMillan’s life. Its early material covers his school years and includes his Grade 1 ballet exam certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing in 1944. Personal material includes diaries and handwritten notes that are incomplete but revelatory. His interest in fantasy jewellery is also covered: the Jewels of Fantasy exhibition at the V&A included key items from his own collection.
There is correspondence from major figures in ballet, music and theatre, as well as from friends and members of the public. Blending business with personal matters, they include letters from Dame Ninette de Valois, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Lucia Chase, Alexander Grant, Nora Kaye, Jiří Kylián and more.
The archive has been gifted to the RAD by Deborah, Lady MacMillan and the RAD is extremely grateful for her generosity. The RAD is planning a cataloguing project for 2025 after which the collection will be made available to the public for educational research. Containing over 75,000 items spanning 100 years, the RAD Archive, based at RAD’s Wolfson Library at its headquarters in London, is an important record of the evolution of British ballet and dance in the 20th century. Last year, the RAD received the archive of Dancing Times, Britain’s oldest dance magazine.
RAD members can visit the library for free. For more information visit here.
