Famous Ballerina To Dance In City

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29224, 7 June 1960, Page 8

Famous Ballerina To Dance In City

The internationally-famous ballerina, Beryl Grey, partnered by the New Zealand premier danseur of the Royal Ballet. Covent Garden, Bryan Ashbridge, will dance excerpts from famous ballets and others which have not been seen in New Zealand at the Majestic Theatre from June 20 to 25. The soloists will be supported by Donald Britton and Pamela Moncur, also members of the Royal Ballet. The most youthful ballerina ever produced by the Royal Ballet (then Sadlers’ Wells), Miss Grey was dancing with the company when only 14 years of age. Shortly before her 15th birthday she took over the role of Odette in “Swan Lake” when Margot Fonteyn became ill. At the age of 15 she made ballet history by dancing her first fulllength “Swan Lake"—the youngest ballerina ever to attempt this complex role. During her years with Sadler’s Wells. Miss Grey danced all the classical roles as well as creating many in the modern repertoire. When she left the company in 1957 she had become a prima ballerina. Since that time she has danced in many parts of the world.

Her debut with the celebrated Bolshoi Ballet was as Odette and Odile in "Swan Lake.” She was acclaimed as “technically magnificent with the sharp brilliance of a cut diamond” in her tremendous interpretation of the “Swan Queen.” In Moscow, Miss Grey achieved a triumph which only the great can earn. Partnered on her tour by Yuri Kondratov. well-known to New Zealanders as director of last year’s tour by th<? Bolshoi Ballet Group, the ballerina was acclaimed in ballet in Russia’s main centres.

Since Russia, Miss Grey has triumphed in Bucharest; Paris and South Africa with her Auck-land-born partner, Bryan Ashbridge. Bryan Ashbridge is returning to his homeland for a second time in three years this tour. Since he left the Borovansky Ballet about 12 years ago to join the Royal Ballet in London, he has emerged as a dancer of great masculinity, authority and assurance.

Having partnered many of the finest ballerinas in the world today. Mr Ashbridge is a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet Although a naturally strong and vigorous dancer he can impart deep feeling bordering on the

ethereal when required. His superb physique creates an aristocratic and noble figure on stage.

Last year he became the first British male dancer to appear behind the Iron Curtain when he partnered Miss Grey in a “fabulous production” of “Swan Lake” in Bucharest. They have been invited to return to dance in “Romeo and Juliet.” When not on tour, Mr Ashbridge, who is 34. has been busy on a “do-it-yourself” renovation job at his home in Harrow, Middlesex. A keen cricketer, Mr Ashbridge has regularly played for the London New Zealand Cricket Club. He has the reputation of being a good medium-pace bowler and a thoroughly acrobatic man in the field.

Donald Britton, at 31 years of age, is now recognised as one of the finest character dancers at present in English ballet and last year he created the title role in the new ballet “Sweeney Todd”, at Covent Garden. Miss Moncur is one of the youngest soloists with the Royal Ballet. Born in Manchester and after training in her home city, she joined Saddlers Wells school when she was 13. Two years and a half ago she joined the company and was soon dancing solo roles. She danced the notoriously difficult role of the Blue Girl in “Les Patineurs” while still in the corps de ballet.

The pianist for the tour will be Mr Dudley Simpson, the Australian ballet conductor, who is now a regular guest conductor with the Royal Ballet