- In full:
- Dame Darcey Andrea Bussell
- Awards And Honors:
- Prix de Lausanne (1986)
Darcey Bussell
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Who is Darcey Bussell?
Darcey Bussell (born in London, England, on April 27, 1969) is a British ballet dancer who gained recognition in the late 20th century. At 13, she began training at the Royal Ballet's lower school, White Lodge. In 1986, she was chosen for the lead in a school performance at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House and won the Prix de Lausanne.
After graduating from White Lodge in 1987, Bussell joined the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and, a year later, returned to the Royal Ballet as a soloist. She was promoted to principal dancer in 1989 and named Dance & Dancers magazine’s Dancer of the Year in 1990. Bussell retired from dancing in 2007 and has since appeared on television, including as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing (2009; 2012–18).
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What type of dance is Darcey Bussell famous for?
Darcey Bussell is a British ballet dancer celebrated for her energy and passion. At 13, she began training at the Royal Ballet School and later joined the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet. Bussell returned to the Royal Ballet as a soloist and was quickly promoted to principal dancer. She excelled in classical ballets like Giselle and Romeo and Juliet, as well as modern works. Bussell also performed with the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, and the Frankfurt Ballet. She retired from dancing in 2007 and has since appeared on television, including as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
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What is The Royal Ballet, and what was Darcey Bussell's role there?
The Royal Ballet is an English ballet company that was established in 1956. It was granted a royal charter of incorporation by Queen Elizabeth II, who renamed it from the Sadler’s Wells Ballet.
Darcey Bussell is a British ballet dancer who became one of the Royal Ballet of London’s youngest principal dancers. Bussell performed every major role in the Royal Ballet’s repertoire and was praised for the purity, radiance, strength, and dynamism of her dancing, as well as the intelligence and passion she brought to her characters.
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What are some of Darcey Bussell's most well-known performances or roles?
Darcey Bussell is celebrated for her energy and passion as a British ballet dancer. She performed every major role in the Royal Ballet’s repertoire and often appeared as a guest with companies like the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opéra Ballet. Bussell was also chosen to create the role of Princess Rose in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s new version of The Prince of the Pagodas. She was especially praised for the purity and radiance of her dancing, her strength and dynamism, and the intelligence and passion with which she portrayed her characters.
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How did Darcey Bussell contribute to dance after retiring from performing?
After retiring from dancing in 2007, Darcey Bussell remained a prominent figure in the dance world through various activities. After a move to Australia, she authored ballet-themed children’s books and, upon returning to London in 2012, Bussell became a judge on the television series Strictly Come Dancing (2009; 2012–18). In 2021, she played the mayor in Coppelia, a live-action and animated film adaptation of the 19th-century comic ballet. Bussell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2018.
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Why is Darcey Bussell considered an important figure in British dance history?
Darcey Bussell is an important figure in British dance history because of her energy and passion. As one of the Royal Ballet of London's youngest principal dancers, she excelled in dramatic classical ballets like Giselle and Romeo and Juliet, as well as modern works. Bussell's talent extended beyond ballet, as she appeared in fashion magazines and television, increasing her recognition. She performed every major role in the Royal Ballet's repertoire and guest-starred with companies such as the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opéra Ballet. For her final performance in 2007, she received extended applause. Darcey Bussell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2018.
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Darcey Bussell (born April 27, 1969, London, England) is a British ballet dancer and celebrity of the late 20th century. Renowned for the energy and passion of her performances, she was one of the youngest artists to serve as principal dancer in the Royal Ballet of London.
At age 13 Bussell began attending White Lodge, the lower school of the Royal Ballet. Although she had studied ballet since she was a small child, she started her serious training later than most students at the school; consequently, she initially experienced difficulty with the strenuous exercises and dance routines. She persevered nevertheless, and in 1986, when she was 17, she was chosen for the lead in a school performance at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House. In the same year, she also won the Prix de Lausanne (a major international dance competition held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland). After Bussell graduated from White Lodge in 1987, she was taken into the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (later Birmingham Royal Ballet). A year later she was back at the Royal Ballet as a soloist, having been selected to create the role of Princess Rose in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s new version of The Prince of the Pagodas. She was promoted to principal dancer the day after its premiere in 1989, and in 1990 she was named Dance & Dancers magazine’s Dancer of the Year.
Bussell was equally at home in such dramatic classical ballets as Giselle and Romeo and Juliet and in the more modern works of such choreographers as George Balanchine. Her fame was not confined to the ballet stage, however. With the beauty, height, and long legs of a supermodel, Bussell found her way onto the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair fashion magazines. She also appeared on television with various celebrities and screen-tested with Harrison Ford for the remake of the classic movie Sabrina (though the part finally went to an actress believed to have greater name recognition). In London her portrait was hung in the National Portrait Gallery.
Bussell performed every major role in the Royal Ballet’s repertoire and made frequent guest appearances with such companies as the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, and the Frankfurt (Germany) Ballet. She was praised especially for the purity and radiance of her dancing, her strength and dynamism, and the intelligence and passion with which she portrayed her characters.
Bussell continued to perform for more than a decade. In 2007 she retired from her dancing career, but only after drawing extended thunderous applause for her final performance in MacMillan’s Song of the Earth at the Royal Opera House. She later immigrated to Australia with her family, where she subsequently produced a series of ballet-themed children’s books. In 2012, however, she moved back to London. Bussell frequently appeared on television, and she notably was a judge on the reality series Strictly Come Dancing (2009; 2012–18). She also played the mayor in Coppelia (2021), a live-action and animated film adaptation of the 19th-century comic ballet.
Bussell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2018.