Frederick Ashton

Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (September 17, 1904 - October 18, 1988) began his career as a dancer but is largely remembered as a choreographer.

Related Topics:
September 17 - 1904 - October 18 - 1988 - Choreographer

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Ashton was born in Ecuador, in the artistic neighborhood called Las Peñas, the original founding site of the city.

Related Topics:
Ecuador - Las Peñas

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When he was 13 he witnessed a life-changing event when he attended a performance by the legendary Anna Pavlova in the Municipal Theater in Lima,Peru. He was so impressed that from that day on he knew he would become a dancer.

Related Topics:
Anna Pavlova - Lima - Peru

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In 1919 he went to England to study under the famous Leonine Massine and established a working relationship with the ballet troupe belonging to Marie Rambert and Ninette de Valois. Rambert discovered Frederick's aptitude for choreography and allowed him to choreograph his first ballet, "The Tragedy of Fashion" in 1926, starting a tremendously successful career as a choreographer.

Related Topics:
England - Leonine Massine - Marie Rambert - Ninette de Valois

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He began his career with the Ballet Rambert which was originally called The Ballet Club. He rose to fame with The Royal Ballet, becoming its resident choreographer in the 1930s. His version of La Fille mal gardee was particularly successful. He worked with Margot Fonteyn among others. His broad travesti performances as one of the comic Ugly Stepsisters in Prokofiev's Cinderella were annual events for many years.

Related Topics:
Ballet Rambert - The Royal Ballet - 1930s - La Fille mal gardee - Margot Fonteyn - Prokofiev

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In 1962, he was knighted for his services to ballet.

Related Topics:
1962 - Ballet

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