Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Director of the Royal Ballet and former principal dancer, mentored by Kenneth Macmillan, danced with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.
On the island
Eight records
Russian State Symphony Orchestra
There's something about standing on the stage, behind those curtains, and hearing the orchestra begin this fabulous overture. It is simply so inspiring and needs to be because this is not an easy ballet to dance.
I have a very vivid memory of my grandmother and a wind-up gramophone. And she would say to me, Let's go and sit down and and listen to my favourite. And I knew exactly which it was. I would wind the gramophone up, put this record on, and then see her put her head back on the chair and shut her eyes, and her face had an expression of absolute bliss.
my father loved piano music. And I remember one day, again a very clear memory, of him putting this record on, and him saying, Would you l like to learn to foxtrot? And so with that I stood on his feet, and we danced around the sitting room.
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo
I was so amazed by the harmony of their voices when they sang. My father could speak Zulu, and this piece of music, when it first came out, I remember thinking This is just this is me
The Rite of Spring (Sacrificial Dance)
this is where one hopes to convince everybody that you're completely dead at the end of it.
my husband was an amazing musician, as well as having been a dancer. and he used to take his guitar with him on tour. And so I used to find myself sitting in his room while he played his guitar for hours. And I grew to love the music and I grew to love him.
Das Lied von der Erde (Der Abschied)Favourite
Christa Ludwig, Fritz Wunderlich, Philharmonia Orchestra and New Philharmonia Orchestra
This Ballet by Kenneth MacMillan. Many people feel is perhaps his greatest achievement. It's a great piece of choreography. And just meant so much to me. To be in the spale.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:26Are you taking time to look back at this extraordinary, enduring relationship that you've had with the Royal Ballet?
I'm finding that as people are looking back over my fifty-four years with the Royal Ballet, it's meant that I am reflecting. But of course, in looking back, one rediscovers joys and fears and all sorts, all the things that have gone to make one's life what it's been.
Presenter asks
2:00Will you go back and watch performances, do you think?
Well, I've been invited to come back in and uh work with the company on certain Macmillan works, and so I'm thrilled that I shall be able to do that, because I think it would be very hard if I was just going to completely lose touch with everybody. Um I don't think I could bear that, actually.
Presenter asks
2:53What does it take to be a principal dancer?
it takes Absolute dedication. And that you don't achieve it. Easily. But, you know, the joy of dance, which again, one doesn't really quite understand why we long to do this. Punishing thing, really. More than compensates.
The keepsakes
The book
An omnibus of everything by David Attenborough
David Attenborough
I just think he's completely wonderful, and he's taught us all so much about the world we live in.
The luxury
To be practical, I'd need a torch. Because it's going to be very dark on this island. and I remember as a child being very frightened of the dark. African nights are very black and although wonderfully starry. And I think I'll need a torch.
Presenter asks
5:10How long were you yourself out of action for [due to injury]?
I was off the stage for nine months. I think that I um had some really wonderful friends in the company. I'd put on weight. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror, so I simply didn't look, actually, for a while.
Presenter asks
12:24Can you tell me what happened [when your father died]?
Well, I think he must have known something wasn't right, and by the time he went to see a specialist It was realized that he had something seriously wrong. Of course, my sister and I were not told anything. And he drove me to school on the Monday morning and said I'm you know I'm driving myself on into hospital. And uh in fact it was the last conversation I had with him. Because children weren't allowed into the particular hospital that he was in. and I remember he came out on a balcony. and waved to us and we were on the other side of the road. I never saw him again.
Presenter asks
13:40Did your mother lean on you for support?
She was extraordinary. I I remember that on the night of his death. The doctor came round to the house and gave her, I suppose, a sleeping pill… And the doctor had said to me You must be very brave for her. And looking back, of course, I think, gosh, that was quite something to say to a thirteen year old, and I just thought. I will do that. I will try to be brave for her.
“I think that one of the things that I really would be determined uh not to do would be to get in the new director's hair. I couldn't bear it if I thought that behind closed doors somebody was saying, She's here again, you know.”
“I remember feeling Incredibly different suddenly. All my friends talked about their parents. And now I couldn't talk about my father. And I just was so aware of feeling rather isolated.”
“I always loved being physical. I loved performing. But I never felt I was wonderful at it. I just knew I got such pleasure out of if somebody said dance, I would do it.”
“there's something rather wonderful or mad to think that you could die dancing. I used to think that. What a wonderful way to go”