Elaine Fifield
Born28 October 1930
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died11 May 1999
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationBallerina
Spouse(s)John Lanchbery
Les Farley
Children3 daughters

Elaine Fifield (28 October 1930 - 11 May 1999) was an Australian ballerina, perhaps best known for creating the title role in John Cranko's comic ballet Pineapple Poll in 1951.[1]

Early life

Elaine Fifield was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 28 October 1930.[2] She trained at the Scully School and with Leon Kelloway, in Australia.[1] In 1945, she won a Royal Academy of Dance scholarship, and trained at the Royal Ballet School.[1]

Career

In 1947, Fifield joined Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet. Her work there included lead dancer in Selina (1948), a ballet choreographed by Andrée Howard to the music of Rossini, scenario and design by Peter Williams.[3] She also appeared as a dancer in the 1948 Crown Film Unit film, Steps of the Ballet, also with choreography by Howard, and music by Arthur Benjamin, directed by Muir Mathieson.[4]

In 1954 moved to The Royal Ballet,[1] where the following year she danced in the Frederick Ashton ballet (to music by Benjamin Britten) Variations on a Theme of Purcell, portraying the oboe.[5] In 1957, she returned to Australia and joined the Borovansky Ballet, which was to form the basis of The Australian Ballet.[1] In 1964, she returned as a principal artist with The Australian Ballet, having been invited to do so by its artistic director, Peggy van Praagh.[1]

Personal life

In 1952, she married the musician and ballet conductor John Lanchbery, they had a daughter, and the marriage ended in divorce. In 1960, she married plantation owner Les Farley, and they had two daughters.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clarke, Mary (31 May 1999). "Elaine Fifield". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Obituary: Elaine Fifield". independent.co.uk. 24 May 1999. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  3. ↑ Photographs from Royal Opera House Collections Online
  4. ↑ English National Ballet Videos: Steps of the Ballet
  5. ↑ Frederick Ashton Foundation archive
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