Rowena Jackson
Encyclopedia
Rowena Othlie Jackson MBE
(born 1926) is a New Zealand
prima ballerina. Jackson was born in Invercargill
, to William Ernest Jackson and Lilliane Jane, née Solomon. She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School
, in Auckland, and in 1941 won the first Royal Academy of Dancing Scholarship in New Zealand. In 1946 Jackson joined the Saddler's Wells Ballet in London. She was later prima ballerina like Darcey Bussell
, Antoinette Sibley
and the great assoluta Margot Fonteyn
in the Royal Ballet for many years. She was notable for her role as Swanhilda in the ballet Coppélia
, and danced with Robert Helpmann
and her husband Philip Chatfield.
In 1959 Jackson held the world record for multiple fouettés performed sur place, and was awarded MBE in 1961.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1926) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
prima ballerina. Jackson was born in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
, to William Ernest Jackson and Lilliane Jane, née Solomon. She attended Epsom Girls' Grammar School
Epsom Girls' Grammar School
Epsom Girls Grammar School is a girls school located in Epsom, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It was established in 1917.The principal is Madeleine Gunn...
, in Auckland, and in 1941 won the first Royal Academy of Dancing Scholarship in New Zealand. In 1946 Jackson joined the Saddler's Wells Ballet in London. She was later prima ballerina like Darcey Bussell
Darcey Bussell
Darcey Andrea Bussell CBE is a retired English ballerina. Trained at the Arts Educational School and the Royal Ballet School, she was later employed by the Royal Ballet, where she was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer and would become recognised as one of the greatest English ballerinas of...
, Antoinette Sibley
Antoinette Sibley
Dame Antoinette Sibley, DBE is an English prima ballerina. She joined the Royal Ballet in 1956 and became a soloist in 1960. During her time there she was the Royal Ballet's most popular star...
and the great assoluta Margot Fonteyn
Margot Fonteyn
Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias, DBE , was an English ballerina of the 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time...
in the Royal Ballet for many years. She was notable for her role as Swanhilda in the ballet Coppélia
Coppélia
Coppélia is a sentimental comic ballet with original choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon to a ballet libretto by Saint-Léon and Charles Nuitter and music by Léo Delibes. It was based upon two macabre stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, Der Sandmann , and Die Puppe...
, and danced with Robert Helpmann
Robert Helpmann
Sir Robert Helpmann CBE was an Australian dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer.-Early years:He was born Robert Murray Helpman in Mount Gambier, South Australia and also boarded at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. From childhood, Helpman had a strong desire to be a dancer...
and her husband Philip Chatfield.
In 1959 Jackson held the world record for multiple fouettés performed sur place, and was awarded MBE in 1961.