Donald Britton
Encyclopedia
Donald Gene Britton was a principal dancer with the two Royal Ballet companies, the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet and the Sadler’s Wells Ballet from 1945 to 1965.
Donald Britton was born in London in 1929. He originally started as a tap dancer “wandering into ballet” at the age of six. His family were living over a ballet school and young Donald became fascinated with the activities downstairs. He studied ballet with the Maddock School in London and then with Lilian Godwin in Bristol before joining the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School during the second world war. In 1945 at the age of sixteen he was chosen as one of the founding members of the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet. During his early years there he achieved critical acclaim for his performances in Carnaval and Spectre de la Rose.
Following a period of military service he rejoined the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet as a principal dancer in 1951. Known for his masculine, aggressive style, a number of leading solo parts were created for Britton by the leading choreographers of their time - Frederick Ashton
(Valses Nobles et Sentimentales), Kenneth MacMillan
(Danses Concertantes, Solitaire (1956) and The Burrow (1958)), Walter Gore (Carte Blanche) and John Cranko
(the title role in Sweeney Todd). Britton also had a mischievous, lighthearted side which was seen to good effect in his portrayals of Captain Belaye in Pineapple Poll
and Pierrot in Cranko’s Harlequin in April.
Britton left the Royal Ballet in 1965 and taught at the Royal Ballet School
. He continued to dance during this time in a number of West End musicals including The Grand Waltz then went on to further teaching in the Arts Educational Schools in London. Britton moved to France and founded the New Danse Studio in Brive in 1978.
Following a serious illness as a result of which he returned to England, Donald Britton died in hospital in Birmingham on 31 May 1983.
Donald Britton was born in London in 1929. He originally started as a tap dancer “wandering into ballet” at the age of six. His family were living over a ballet school and young Donald became fascinated with the activities downstairs. He studied ballet with the Maddock School in London and then with Lilian Godwin in Bristol before joining the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School during the second world war. In 1945 at the age of sixteen he was chosen as one of the founding members of the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet. During his early years there he achieved critical acclaim for his performances in Carnaval and Spectre de la Rose.
Following a period of military service he rejoined the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet as a principal dancer in 1951. Known for his masculine, aggressive style, a number of leading solo parts were created for Britton by the leading choreographers of their time - Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
(Valses Nobles et Sentimentales), Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan
Sir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
(Danses Concertantes, Solitaire (1956) and The Burrow (1958)), Walter Gore (Carte Blanche) and John Cranko
John Cranko
John Cyril Cranko was a choreographer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet....
(the title role in Sweeney Todd). Britton also had a mischievous, lighthearted side which was seen to good effect in his portrayals of Captain Belaye in Pineapple Poll
Pineapple Poll
Pineapple Poll is a Gilbert and Sullivan-inspired comic ballet, created by choreographer John Cranko with arranger Sir Charles Mackerras. Pineapple Poll is based on "The Bumboat Woman's Story", one of W. S. Gilbert's Bab Ballads, written in 1870. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera H.M.S. Pinafore was...
and Pierrot in Cranko’s Harlequin in April.
Britton left the Royal Ballet in 1965 and taught at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
. He continued to dance during this time in a number of West End musicals including The Grand Waltz then went on to further teaching in the Arts Educational Schools in London. Britton moved to France and founded the New Danse Studio in Brive in 1978.
Following a serious illness as a result of which he returned to England, Donald Britton died in hospital in Birmingham on 31 May 1983.