John Gilpin | |
---|---|
Born | John Brian Gilpin 10 February 1930 |
Died | 5 September 1983
London, England | (aged 53)
Resting place | Chapel of Peace, Monaco |
Occupation(s) | Ballet dancer and actor |
Spouses | |
Children | 1 |
John Brian Gilpin (10 February 1930 – 5 September 1983) was a leading English ballet dancer and actor. [1]
John Brian Gilpin was the son of William John Gilpin (1903–1967) and Lilian May née Lendon (1902–1986). He had a twin brother, Anthony.[ citation needed]
Gilpin started dance lessons at the age of seven, studying at the Arts Educational and Ballet Rambert schools. [2] [1]
As a child he appeared in several West End stage successes and in films, such as They Were Sisters and The Years Between, opposite Michael Redgrave.[ citation needed]
He won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal in 1943, the youngest winner to do so. [1]
Gilpin joined Ballet Rambert in 1945, becoming a principal. [1] He went with the company on their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1947–49. [2]
He danced the 1949 season with Roland Petit's company, and the 1950 season with Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas in Monte Carlo. [2] [1]
Gilpin was Principal Dancer of the London Festival Ballet for over twenty years from its inauguration in 1950 until leg injuries forced his retirement. [2] [1] His performances in Le Spectre de la Rose and Giselle were particularly acclaimed. [3] Gilpin also guested with the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. [1] He created multiple roles, including The Sailor's Return in 1947, Le Rêve de Léonor in 1949, Esmeralda in 1954, and Variations for Four in 1957. [1]
Between 1965 and 1967 Gilpin served London Festival Ballet as its artistic director. [1]
Gilpin appeared in the play Invitation to the Dance by Maxim Mazumdar which was based on his life. [1] In 1981 he starred in Italy as Oberon in Lindsay Kemp's Midsummer Night's Dream. [1] In 1957, Gilpin won the Nijinsky Prize in Paris. [2] His partners included Danilova, Fonteyn, Markova, Sibley, Park, Seymour and Shearer. [2]
Gilpin was the recipient of several prizes: the Vaslav Nijinsky (1958), the Etoile d'Or (1964) and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for services to British Ballet (1963). [2]
In 1982 Gilpin published an autobiography, A Dance With Life. [1]
He was twice married:
He died from a heart attack, six weeks after marrying his second wife, Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy. [3]
John Gilpin | |
---|---|
Born | John Brian Gilpin 10 February 1930 |
Died | 5 September 1983
London, England | (aged 53)
Resting place | Chapel of Peace, Monaco |
Occupation(s) | Ballet dancer and actor |
Spouses | |
Children | 1 |
John Brian Gilpin (10 February 1930 – 5 September 1983) was a leading English ballet dancer and actor. [1]
John Brian Gilpin was the son of William John Gilpin (1903–1967) and Lilian May née Lendon (1902–1986). He had a twin brother, Anthony.[ citation needed]
Gilpin started dance lessons at the age of seven, studying at the Arts Educational and Ballet Rambert schools. [2] [1]
As a child he appeared in several West End stage successes and in films, such as They Were Sisters and The Years Between, opposite Michael Redgrave.[ citation needed]
He won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal in 1943, the youngest winner to do so. [1]
Gilpin joined Ballet Rambert in 1945, becoming a principal. [1] He went with the company on their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1947–49. [2]
He danced the 1949 season with Roland Petit's company, and the 1950 season with Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas in Monte Carlo. [2] [1]
Gilpin was Principal Dancer of the London Festival Ballet for over twenty years from its inauguration in 1950 until leg injuries forced his retirement. [2] [1] His performances in Le Spectre de la Rose and Giselle were particularly acclaimed. [3] Gilpin also guested with the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. [1] He created multiple roles, including The Sailor's Return in 1947, Le Rêve de Léonor in 1949, Esmeralda in 1954, and Variations for Four in 1957. [1]
Between 1965 and 1967 Gilpin served London Festival Ballet as its artistic director. [1]
Gilpin appeared in the play Invitation to the Dance by Maxim Mazumdar which was based on his life. [1] In 1981 he starred in Italy as Oberon in Lindsay Kemp's Midsummer Night's Dream. [1] In 1957, Gilpin won the Nijinsky Prize in Paris. [2] His partners included Danilova, Fonteyn, Markova, Sibley, Park, Seymour and Shearer. [2]
Gilpin was the recipient of several prizes: the Vaslav Nijinsky (1958), the Etoile d'Or (1964) and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for services to British Ballet (1963). [2]
In 1982 Gilpin published an autobiography, A Dance With Life. [1]
He was twice married:
He died from a heart attack, six weeks after marrying his second wife, Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy. [3]