MacMillan, Sir Kenneth (1929-1992), ranks among the leading figures in the history of British ballet. MacMillan began his career as a dancer and gained international recognition as a choreographer (creator of dances).
MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. He studied in London at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet school and joined the Sadler’s Wells Ballet company (later the Royal Ballet) as a dancer in 1946. He began his career as choreographer with the company in 1953. MacMillan was artistic director of the Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977, when he became the company’s principal choreographer. He also directed the German Opera in Berlin from 1966 to 1969.
MacMillan’s major works as a choreographer include Solitaire (1956), Diversions (1961), Rite of Spring (1962), Romeo and Juliet (his first three-act ballet, 1965), Manon (1974), and Mayerling (1978). MacMillan was knighted in 1983.
