David Gayle
Encyclopedia
David Gayle MBE is a former dancer with The Royal Ballet and founder of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars and first co-ordinator of the Royal Ballet Summer School.
, West Yorkshire
, and trained under Mrs Margaret Allenby-Jaffé in Skipton
, North Yorkshire
. He was a dancer with The Royal Ballet, performing alongside the likes of Rudolf Nureyev
and Dame Margot Fonteyn
. He was the first boy to be taken on to the teacher training course at the Royal Ballet School
.
, founder of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School
. The first master class was then taught by Dame Alicia Markova
. "Our reputation spread nd students came from all over the world," Gayle said in an interview in 2009. "So many of the students went on to be professional dancers: in ballet companies, in musicals and in contemporary dance." The Yorkshire Ballet Seminars left Ilkley when the college closed in 1999 and are now held at York St John University
in York
.
Following the success of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, prima ballerina Merle Park invited Gayle to set up similar seminars in London as the Royal Ballet Summer School in 1987.
Gayle retired from the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars in 2005, handing over the directorship to Marguerite Porter
, a former senior principal ballerina and guest artist with the Royal Ballet. Gayle was made an MBE
in 1991.
Early career
David Gayle was born and brought up in IlkleyIlkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the metropolitan borough of Bradford. Approximately north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and trained under Mrs Margaret Allenby-Jaffé in Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. He was a dancer with The Royal Ballet, performing alongside the likes of Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
and Dame 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...
. He was the first boy to be taken on to the teacher training course at the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
.
Yorkshire Ballet Seminars
Gayle founded the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars to give young people the chance to learn ballet without having to go to London. The first residential summer ballet course was officially opened at Ilkley College on 4 August 1975 by Dame Ninette de ValoisNinette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
, founder of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
. The first master class was then taught by Dame Alicia Markova
Alicia Markova
Dame Alicia Markova, DBE, DMus, was an English ballerina and a choreographer, director and teacher of classical ballet. Most noted for her career with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and touring internationally, she was widely considered to be one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the...
. "Our reputation spread nd students came from all over the world," Gayle said in an interview in 2009. "So many of the students went on to be professional dancers: in ballet companies, in musicals and in contemporary dance." The Yorkshire Ballet Seminars left Ilkley when the college closed in 1999 and are now held at York St John University
York St John University
York St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
Following the success of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, prima ballerina Merle Park invited Gayle to set up similar seminars in London as the Royal Ballet Summer School in 1987.
Gayle retired from the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars in 2005, handing over the directorship to Marguerite Porter
Marguerite Porter
Marguerite Porter is an English former principal ballet dancer, turned actress and choreographer.Born in Doncaster, Porter trained in Yorkshire and at the Royal Ballet School in London, where she was taught by Dame Ninette De Valois.After two years training she joined The Royal Ballet, where she...
, a former senior principal ballerina and guest artist with the Royal Ballet. Gayle was made an MBE
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...
in 1991.