Sir Robert Helpmann

Sir Robert Helpmann was a renowned Australian dancer, actor, and choreographer, best known for his work with the Royal Ballet and his collaborations with Vladimir Malakhov, Rudolf Nureyev, and Margot Fonteyn. He was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, and began his training at the Australian Ballet School, later moving to London to study at the Royal Academy of Dance with Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert. Helpmann's early career was influenced by his work with the Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, where he danced alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina.

● Early Life and Training

Helpmann's interest in dance was encouraged by his mother, who enrolled him in classes at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. He later moved to London to continue his training at the Royal Academy of Dance, where he studied with Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert. During this time, he was also influenced by the works of Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, which featured dancers such as Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina. Helpmann's training also included studies with Enrico Cecchetti and Olga Preobrazhenskaya, who taught him the techniques of ballet and character dance.

● Career

Helpmann's career spanned over five decades, during which he worked with some of the most prominent ballet companies and dancers of his time, including the Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. He danced alongside renowned ballerinas such as Margot Fonteyn, Maya Plisetskaya, and Galina Ulanova, and worked with choreographers like George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, and Kenneth MacMillan. Helpmann's performances were often praised by critics, including Clement Crisp of The Financial Times and Arnold Haskell of The Daily Telegraph.

● Choreographic Works

Helpmann's choreographic works include The Display, a ballet set to music by Malcolm Williamson, and The Merry Widow, a ballet based on the Franz Lehár operetta. He also choreographed Elektra, a ballet based on the Richard Strauss opera, and The Nutcracker, a ballet set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Helpmann's choreography was often influenced by his work with Vladimir Malakhov and Rudolf Nureyev, and he was known for his ability to create complex and nuanced ballets that showcased the technical abilities of his dancers.

● Film and Television Appearances

Helpmann appeared in several films and television productions, including The Red Shoes, a Powell and Pressburger film that starred Moira Shearer and Anton Walbrook. He also appeared in The Tales of Hoffmann, a film based on the Jacques Offenbach opera, and Don Quixote, a ballet film that starred Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Helpmann's television appearances included The Ed Sullivan Show and The Bell Telephone Hour, where he performed alongside dancers such as Maria Tallchief and Tanaquil Le Clercq.

● Awards and Legacy

Helpmann was awarded a Knight Bachelor in 1968 for his services to ballet, and he received the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1982. He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal and the Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. Helpmann's legacy continues to be celebrated through the Helpmann Awards, which are presented annually to recognize excellence in the performing arts in Australia. The awards are administered by Live Performance Australia and have been presented to artists such as Stephen Page and Meryl Tankard.

● Personal Life

Helpmann was known for his long-term relationship with Robert Murray, a Scottish-born dancer and choreographer. The two men met while working with the Royal Ballet and remained together until Helpmann's death in 1986. Helpmann was also a close friend of Noël Coward and Ian Fleming, and he often spent his summers at Goldeneye, Fleming's estate in Jamaica. Helpmann's personal life was often marked by his love of travel and his passion for the arts, and he was known for his generosity and support of young dancers and choreographers, including Graeme Murphy and Stephen Baynes. Category: Australian ballet dancers