Freddie Franklin
Encyclopedia
Frederic Franklin CBE (born 13 June 1914) is a British-born ballet
dancer and director.
, England, Frederic Franklin claimed that from seeing Peter Pan
his only thought was to go on the stage. He began his career in 1931 at the Casino de Paris
with Josephine Baker
. He co-founded the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet and was the founder and director of the National Ballet in Washington DC. He has continued to work with ballet companies including American Ballet Theatre
, Chicago Ballet
and Cincinnati Ballet
.
Frederic Franklin and Alexandra Danilova
created one of the legendary ballet partnerships of the twentieth century. Among the other ballerinas he has partnered have been Alicia Markova
, Irina Baronova, Agnes de Mille
, Ruthanna Boris, Yvette Chauvire, Moira Shearer
, Rosella Hightower
, Maria Tallchief
, Tamara Toumanova
and Alicia Alonso
. He has worked with such choreographers as Michel Fokine
, Leonide Massine, Bronislava Nijinska
, Frederick Ashton
, George Balanchine
, Agnes de Mille
, Ruth Page
and Valerie Bettis
.
On 16 November 2004, he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
. In his 90s, Franklin continues to perform with American Ballet Theater, appearing in mime roles such as the Friar in Romeo and Juliet
and Madge in La Sylphide
.
Today Franklin is Director Emeritus at the Cincinnati Ballet and still performs occasionally with American Ballet Theater.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and director.
Biography
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England, Frederic Franklin claimed that from seeing Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
his only thought was to go on the stage. He began his career in 1931 at the Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
with Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess"....
. He co-founded the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet and was the founder and director of the National Ballet in Washington DC. He has continued to work with ballet companies including American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
, Chicago Ballet
Chicago Ballet
Chicago Opera Ballet, established in 1910, which marks the beginnings of the first American ballet company. Chicago Grand Opera Company's first ballet master was Luigi Albertieri . The opera became a base from which successful Chicago resident dance companies emerged...
and Cincinnati Ballet
Cincinnati Ballet
The Cincinnati Ballet is a professional ballet company founded in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The current artistic director is Victoria Morgan.-Founding:...
.
Frederic Franklin and Alexandra Danilova
Alexandra Danilova
Aleksandra Dionisyevna Danilova was a Russian-born prima ballerina who became an American citizen....
created one of the legendary ballet partnerships of the twentieth century. Among the other ballerinas he has partnered have been 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...
, Irina Baronova, Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
, Ruthanna Boris, Yvette Chauvire, Moira Shearer
Moira Shearer
Moira Shearer, Lady Kennedy , was an internationally famous Scottish ballet dancer and actress.-Early life:She was born Moira Shearer King in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, the daughter of actor Harold V. King...
, Rosella Hightower
Rosella Hightower
Rosella Hightower was an American ballerina who achieved fame in both the United States and Europe.-Biography:...
, Maria Tallchief
Maria Tallchief
Maria Tallchief was the first native-American prima ballerina. From 1942 to 1947 she danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but she is best known for her time with the New York City Ballet from 1947 to 1965.-Early life:...
, Tamara Toumanova
Tamara Toumanova
Tamara Toumanova was an American ballerina and actress. "Toumanova" was a stage name proposed by Olga Preobrazhenskaya, after her mother’s family name of Tumanishvili.-Personal life:...
and Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso Martínez is the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer. Her company became the Ballet de Cuba in 1955....
. He has worked with such choreographers as Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
, Leonide Massine, Bronislava Nijinska
Bronislava Nijinska
Bronislava Nijinska - February 22, 1972)) was a Russian dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Polish descent.Nijinska was born in Minsk, the third child of the Polish dancers Tomasz and Eleonora Nijinska . Her brother was Vaslav Nijinsky...
, Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
, George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
, Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
, Ruth Page
Ruth Page
Ruth Page was an American ballerina and choreographer, considered a pioneer in creating works on American themes. To the classical ballet vocabulary she added movements from sports, popular dance and everyday gestures....
and Valerie Bettis
Valerie Bettis
Valerie Elizabeth Bettis was an American modern dancer and choreographer. She found success in musical theatre, ballet, and as a solo dancer.-Biography:...
.
On 16 November 2004, he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
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 his 90s, Franklin continues to perform with American Ballet Theater, appearing in mime roles such as the Friar in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (MacMillan)
In 1965 choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan's production of Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Ballet premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden....
and Madge in La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
.
Today Franklin is Director Emeritus at the Cincinnati Ballet and still performs occasionally with American Ballet Theater.