Voices of British Ballet

She retired from dancing in 1976, subsequently teaching in Perth, Western Australia. In 2018 Lucette Aldous was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. She died in 2021.

Acclaimed in many ballerina roles of all parts of the repertoire, her partnerships with Rudolf Nureyev in The Nutcracker for The Royal Ballet and in Don Quixote for The Australian Ballet were noteworthy.

Aldous returned to Australia in 1970 and joined The Australian Ballet. When there she was invited to work with the Kirov Ballet, one of the first Australian dancers to be so honoured.

She joined Ballet Rambert in 1957, being promoted to ballerina in 1958. She went to Festival Ballet in 1963, dancing with John Gilpin, and then in 1967, at the behest of John Field, to The Royal Ballet where, she says, Field ‘wrapped his ballerinas in cotton wool’.

Lucette Aldous » Voices of British Ballet You can hear in her voice how much Lucette Aldous appreciated and revelled in every step of her way from Ballet Rambert to Festival Ballet and The Royal Ballet. With comments as swift as an arrow, wat...

Our latest episode is a conversation with the dancer Lucette Aldous who was born in New Zealand in 1939, but lived in Sydney, Australia, from the age of 3months. After studying in Sydney, she won a scholarship to study at The Royal Ballet School in 1955.
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Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp » Voices of British Ballet In conversation with Alastair Macaulay in 2019, Kenneth Tharp conveys a multitude of observations, along with historical content, and both personal and professional insights. He paints a picture of a ...

Listen to the full episode at any podcast platform or visit our website to explore our growing archive. vhttps://voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/kenneth-tharp/

In the latest epsiode of Voices of British Ballet, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp speaks movingly about his experiences of working with Robin Howard and Robert Cohan. In this lovely interview Kenneth is talking to Alastair Macaulay.

Image: Bill Cooper / ArenaPAL

Donald MacLeary » Voices of British Ballet In this podcast featuring Donald MacLeary, the ballerina Darcey Bussell makes a fascinating and full introduction to her friend and mentor. She stresses the importance of a coach who is both knowledge...

Find the full episode, which is introduced by Darcey Bussell, who was coached by Donald, at our website or at any podcast platform. Just search for Voices of British Ballet. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/dona...

In this week's podcast episode, Donald MacLeary, is in conversation with the dance writer Alastair Macaulay.

Barbara Fewster » Voices of British Ballet Here Barbara Fewster tells us about working at The Royal Ballet School. Her voice has a mixture of authority and kindness which will be remembered by literally thousands of students over the 40-odd ye...

In our latest podcast episode Barbara Fewster talks to Patricia Linton about her time as Ballet Principal and Associate Director of The Royal Ballet School.
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Pineapple Poll » Voices of British Ballet Gerald Dowler hosts a special episode about the comic ballet Pineapple Poll created for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and its creators John Cranko and Charles Mackerras. Pineapple Poll, was the firs...

Listen to the full episode (with Reid Anderson, Brenda Last, Barry Wordsworth, Nigel Simeone and Gerald Dowler) at our website where there's a growing treasure trove of episodes and lots more content to explore.
voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/pine...

In our latest episode we talk about Pineapple Poll - the exuberant comic ballet John Cranko made for Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet in 1951.

School Alumna And Former Teacher Patricia Linton Launches Voices Of British Ballet Podcast - The Royal Ballet School We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Voices of British Ballet, an oral history project founded by Royal Ballet School alumna and former teacher,

A lovely interview with our founder, fount of all knowledge and powerhouse, Patricia Linton www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2025/08/13/s...

Two years later she joined the Vic-Wells Ballet, as its youngest member. In conversation with Bruce Sansom, in our latest episode, she throws light on the early years of Sadler’s Wells Ballet, with all its attendant conventions and eccentricities.

Julia Farron » Voices of British Ballet Julia Farron was born in London in 1922. She was part of the vanguard of extraordinary talent that helped shape ballet in 20th Century Britain. In 1931 she was the first scholarship pupil to join the ...

Julia Farron was born in London in 1922. She was part of the vanguard of extraordinary talent that helped shape ballet in 20th Century Britain. In 1931 she was the first scholarship pupil to join the Vic-Wells Ballet School.

voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/juli...

Rowena Fayre appeared as a snowflake in Nutcracker alongside Pamela May, Julia "Farron", June Brae, Jean Bedells, Annabel Farjeon and Joy Newton and combined the life of a dancer with that of a debutante. She was presented at court in 1939 (having secured the night off performing in Meistersinger.

She won a scholarship to Sadler's Wells School and was sent by Ninette de Valois for a term with Mim Rambert and also for training in Paris with Olga Preobrajenska. She danced in the fairy ballet of A Midsummer Night's Dream where Titania was played by Vivien Leigh.

Rowena Fayre » Voices of British Ballet Born in 1921 Rowena Fayre combined a career in ballet with a very different sort of life. After boarding school in Hertfordshire, and daily lessons at Sadler’s Wells School with Ninette de Valois, she...

Our latest episode features an interview with Rowena Fayre who danced with Sadler's Wells in the 1930's.

voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/rowe...

Home » Voices of British Ballet Voices of British Ballet is an oral history project, capturing the history of British ballet through the voices and stories of dancers and other participants.

Listen to the full episode at any podcast platform and explore our growing archive of interviews and our timeline of British ballet at our website. voicesofbritishballet.com

Lilian Hochauser » Voices of British Ballet For decades the Hochhauser name has been synonymous with the visits to London of the greatest Russian ballet companies and musicians. In conversation with Hilary Condron, Lilian Hochhauser explains ho...

A huge disappointment for audiences who had eagerly anticipated Nureyev’s debut at Covent Garden, his defection nevertheless provided an opportunity for the young Natalia (Natasha) Makarova who danced the lead in Giselle aged just 18. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/lili...

In our latest episode the impresario Lilian Hochauser talks about the moment in 1961 when Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West from the Soviet Union whilst on tour with the Kirov Ballet. Lilian and her husband Victor Hochauser, had organised the tour.

Lynn Seymour » Voices of British Ballet In any history of The Royal Ballet, a special place must be reserved for Lynn Seymour, as the dance actress par excellence. Here she tells Alastair Macaulay about her initial inspiration in her native...

In the latest episode of Voices of British Ballet Lynn Seymour talk about being inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as well as being "blown away" by the Bolshoi's London performances in 1956 when she appeared with them onstage as an "extra".

voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/lynn...

Jock McFadyen » Voices of British Ballet Patricia Linton talks to the artist Jock McFadyen about his work on the designs for Kenneth MacMillan’s The Judas Tree. We hear about Jock’s own rebellious days as a student and about how, as a comple...

In the latest episode we hear the artist Jock McFadyen talk about his part, as designer, in making Kenneth MacMillan's controversial ballet The Judas Tree. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/jock...

Gillian Lynne » Voices of British Ballet The great choreographer and director Gillian Lynne tells Lynn Wallis how it was a giant, but ultimately rewarding step, to leave Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1951. We have a ten-minute trip from the brigh...

The latest Voices of British Ballet episode features the dancer, choreographer and directorm Gillian Lynne. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/gill...

Siobhan Davies » Voices of British Ballet Siobhan Davies explains with her customary honesty, insight and humour, her initial engagement with dance in the 1960s. She talks about how she began as an art student, fascinated by the act of drawin...

The archive interview is introduced by @kenneththarp.bsky.social who speaks about seeing her dance, working with her, her eloquence and curiosity.

Find the full episode at our website or any podcast platform. voicesofbritishballet.com/podcast/siob...

Siobhan Davies won the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement in the recent National Dance Awards.

It will come as no surpise to hear that in this interview she speaks with extraordinary clarity and insight.

(Could we listen to her all day? Yes we could.)

Our latest episode features a jewel from our archive - an inteview with the dancer and choreographer, Siobhan Davies, from 2019. She's in conversation with the dance critic Alastair Macaulay. In this little clip she's talking about the differences,between the Graham and Cunningham techniques.

Clement Crisp » Voices of British Ballet Critic and writer Clement Crisp gives a succinct and vivid summing up of the debt British ballet owes to Constant Lambert, not just as the conductor for the Vic-Wells and then the Sadler’s Wells Balle...

Listen to the full episode at our website or subscibe to our podcast at any podcast platform for new content every week.

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...As an artist, as a conductor, as a musician, as a guide, as a conscience, he was absolutely sensational. And vital, central, to the emergence of the Vic-Wells Sadler’s Wells Ballet."

He says of Constant Lambert: "My feelings about Lambert are of absolutely unrestrained respect. I know not one single bad thing about him, that he ever did...