Doreen Wells
Encyclopedia
Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry (b. 1937, London, England), is a retired British ballerina and theatre dancer.
from the Royal Academy of Dance
. She made her professional stage debut in pantomime
, before ultimately joining the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet.
In theatre, she has performed roles in West End musicals, including the leading role of Vera Baranova in On Your Toes
at the Palace Theatre and Maggie Jones in 42nd Street
at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
. She has also made television appearances including the 1985 Royal Variety Performance
and a BBC Christmas Extravaganza.
On 1 December 2009, she made an appearance on The Paul O'Grady Show
, performing a dance routine with male backing dancers. She was then interviewed by O'Grady and spoke of her continued love for dance and about how she still performs regularly.
On 21 March 2010, Wells will take part in a retrospective of her career at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
On 10 July 1964 dance on role of RAYMONDA with Rudolph Nureev, on role of Jean de Brienne, at Spoleto (Italy) at the Festival dei Due Mondi (Teatro Nuovo di Spoleto).
Career
Wells received her early dance training at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, continuing her studies at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School. She is a winner of the Adeline Genee Gold MedalGenée International Ballet Competition
The Genée International Ballet Competition is one of the world's most prestigious classical ballet competitions. Organised and promoted by the Royal Academy of Dance, the competition is held annually, and is named in memorial to Dame Adeline Genée, one of the founders of the Academy.-Overview:The...
from the Royal Academy of Dance
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
. She made her professional stage debut in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, before ultimately joining the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet.
In theatre, she has performed roles in West End musicals, including the leading role of Vera Baranova in On Your Toes
On Your Toes
On Your Toes is a musical with a book by Richard Rodgers, George Abbott, and Lorenz Hart, music by Rodgers, and lyrics by Hart. It was adapted into a film in 1939....
at the Palace Theatre and Maggie Jones in 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
. She has also made television appearances including the 1985 Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
and a BBC Christmas Extravaganza.
On 1 December 2009, she made an appearance on The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
, performing a dance routine with male backing dancers. She was then interviewed by O'Grady and spoke of her continued love for dance and about how she still performs regularly.
On 21 March 2010, Wells will take part in a retrospective of her career at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
On 10 July 1964 dance on role of RAYMONDA with Rudolph Nureev, on role of Jean de Brienne, at Spoleto (Italy) at the Festival dei Due Mondi (Teatro Nuovo di Spoleto).