Biography

Choreographer, The Leaves Are Fading

Antony Tudor was born in London in 1909 and grew up close to Sadler's Wells Theatre. He began to study dance in 1928. In 1930, Marie Rambert established her Ballet Club (later to become Ballet Rambert) and hired Tudor as caretaker, secretary, dancer, stage manager, pianist and later as a teacher at her Ladbroke Road Studio.

His first ballet was Cross- Garter'd in 1931, which was inspired by episodes from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and within a few years he had created several successful ballets. In 1936, he created his first masterpiece, Jardin aux Lilas, in which he revealed his ability to convey subtle nuances of feeling through dance. This was followed in 1937 by Dark Elegies, set to Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder.

Later in 1937, Tudor left Ballet Rambert to form Dance Theatre, a company with the choreographer Agnes de Mille. This was short-lived and he subsequently established London Ballet. It was in 1938 that he created Judgement of Paris, Soirée Musicale and Gala Performance. These entered Ballet Rambert's repertoire in 1940 when Ballet Rambert and London Ballet amalgamated during World War II. By this time Tudor had left England for the US to join Ballet Theatre (later American Ballet Theatre).

He maintained a nearly 50-year association with the company, choreographing iconic narrative works that are now considered the company’s artistic “conscience”. He was also a gifted teacher and devoted himself by carrying on a tradition of excellence that has influenced generations of dancers and choreographers. 

In his final years, he received numerous awards and honours including the Capezio Award, Handel Medallion of the City of New York, Kennedy Center Honor and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Antony Tudor died in New York on April 19, 1987.