John Chesworth (1930-2014)
Biography:
Dancer with Ballet Rambert 1952-1980; Associate Director of Ballet Rambert 1970-1974; Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert 1974-1980.
John Chesworth began his studies at the Rambert School of Ballet in 1950, following service in the Royal Air Force. Chesworth joined Ballet Rambert as a dancer in 1951. Following the reinvention of Ballet Rambert as a contemporary ensemble in 1966, Chesworth was appointed Assistant to the Directors. His first choreography for the company, 'Time Base', had its premiere that year. Chesworth made seven dance works for Ballet Rambert and two experimental films using the dancers ('Imprints' and 'Dancers - a film'). Chesworth became Associate Director of Ballet Rambert in 1970 and succeeded Norman Morrice as Artistic Director in 1974.
After stepping down from his role at Ballet Rambert in 1980, Chesworth became the founding Artistic Director of the National Youth Dance Company, which he led from 1985 to 2003. He appeared as a guest artist in Rambert's revival of 'Cruel Garden' in 1998. Chesworth was awarded an OBE in 2003.
John Chesworth began his studies at the Rambert School of Ballet in 1950, following service in the Royal Air Force. Chesworth joined Ballet Rambert as a dancer in 1951. Following the reinvention of Ballet Rambert as a contemporary ensemble in 1966, Chesworth was appointed Assistant to the Directors. His first choreography for the company, 'Time Base', had its premiere that year. Chesworth made seven dance works for Ballet Rambert and two experimental films using the dancers ('Imprints' and 'Dancers - a film'). Chesworth became Associate Director of Ballet Rambert in 1970 and succeeded Norman Morrice as Artistic Director in 1974.
After stepping down from his role at Ballet Rambert in 1980, Chesworth became the founding Artistic Director of the National Youth Dance Company, which he led from 1985 to 2003. He appeared as a guest artist in Rambert's revival of 'Cruel Garden' in 1998. Chesworth was awarded an OBE in 2003.
Archive catalogue:
DS/UK/13
Works
Performances
| Date ↿⇂ | Dance Work ↿⇂ | Role ⇃⇂ | Venue ↿⇂ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
27 Jan 1966 Evening |
Diversities* | Air | Richmond Theatre, London |
|
1 Dec 1966 Evening |
Diversities | Air | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
29 Oct 1952 Evening |
Swan Lake Act II | Benno, his friend | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
|
20 May 1954 Evening |
Swan Lake Act II | Benno, his friend | Oxford Playhouse |
|
7 May 1956 Evening |
Swan Lake (Act II) | Benno, his friend | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
|
24 Sep 1956 Evening |
Swan Lake (Act II) | Benno, his friend | King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth |
|
21 Jun 1954 Evening |
Gala Performance | Cavalier | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
28 Jun 1955 Evening |
The Gala Performance | Cavalier | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
22 Jul 1957 Evening |
The Gala Performance | Cavalier | Theatre Royal, Exeter |
|
16 Jun 1960 Evening |
The Gala Performance | Cavalier | Essoldo Theatre, Brighton |
|
27 Jun 1963 Evening |
Gala Performance | Cavalier | Teatro Nuovo, Spoleto, Italy |
|
17 Jun 1964 Matinee |
Gala Performance | Cavalier | New Theatre, Oxford |
|
8 Jul 1952 Evening |
Nutcracker Suite | Chinese Dance | Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod |
|
17 Nov 1952 Evening |
Nutcracker Suite | Chinese Dance | Her Majesty's Theatre, Brighton |
|
21 Jun 1954 Evening |
Variations on a Theme* | Chorus | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
15 Jan 1953 Evening |
The Gala Performance | Conductor | Connaught Theatre, Worthing |
|
22 Jul 1957 Evening |
Conte Fantastique* | Courtier | Theatre Royal, Exeter |
|
17 Jan 1957 Evening |
Coppélia* | Csardas and Mazurka | Theatre Royal, York |
|
11 Jun 1986 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Customer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
15 Jan 1953 Evening |
Plaisance | Dancer | Connaught Theatre, Worthing |
|
21 Apr 1954 Evening |
The Bartered Bride (dances in the opera)* | Dancer | Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, England |
|
24 Apr 1954 Evening |
The Bartered Bride (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, England |
|
17 May 1954 Evening |
Winter Night | Dancer | Oxford Playhouse |
|
20 May 1954 Evening |
The Life and Death of Lola Montez (1816-1861)* | Dancer | Oxford Playhouse |
|
20 May 1954 Evening |
Simple Symphony | Dancer | Oxford Playhouse |
|
21 Jun 1954 Evening |
Winter Night | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
30 Jun 1955 Evening |
The Life and Death of Lola Montez (1818-1861) | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
7 May 1956 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
|
7 May 1956 Evening |
Winter Night | Dancer | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
|
10 Jul 1956 Evening |
Winter Night | Dancer | Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod |
|
24 Sep 1956 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth |
|
22 Jul 1957 Evening |
Plaisance | Dancer | Theatre Royal, Exeter |
|
12 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France |
|
13 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France |
|
15 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France |
|
16 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France |
|
27 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
29 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
30 May 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera)* | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
31 May 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
1 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
4 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
5 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
6 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
7 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
8 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
10 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
12 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
13 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)* | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
14 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
15 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
17 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
18 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
19 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
20 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Falstaff (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
21 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Alceste (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
22 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
25 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
27 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
29 Jun 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
5 Jul 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
9 Jul 1958 Time unknown |
Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera) | Dancer | Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
La Reja* | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
23 Jul 1962 Evening |
Conflicts* | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
23 Jul 1962 Evening |
Winter Night | Dancer | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
27 Jun 1963 Evening |
Conflicts | Dancer | Teatro Nuovo, Spoleto, Italy |
|
23 Jun 1965 Evening |
The Realms of Choice* | Dancer | Coventry Theatre |
|
1 Dec 1966 Evening |
Judgment of Paris | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
20 Nov 1967 Evening |
Ziggurat* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
14 Feb 1968 Evening |
Ziggurat | Dancer | Phoenix Theatre, London |
|
16 Sep 1971 Evening |
Rag-Dances* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
20 Sep 1971 Evening |
Solo* | Dancer | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
25 Mar 1975 Evening |
The Parades Gone By* | Dancer | Leeds Playhouse |
|
26 Mar 1975 Evening |
The Parades Gone By | Dancer | Leeds Playhouse |
|
22 Mar 1977 Evening |
Window | Dancer | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
|
23 Mar 1977 Evening |
Window | Dancer | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
|
24 Mar 1977 Evening |
Window | Dancer | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
|
30 Mar 1977 Evening |
Window | Dancer | Theatre Royal, Glasgow |
|
11 Jul 1977 Evening |
Smiling Immortal* | Dancer | The Round House, London |
|
28 Jun 1962 Evening |
Don Quixote* | Don Quixote | Empire Theatre, Liverpool |
|
29 Jun 1962 Evening |
Don Quixote | Don Quixote | Empire Theatre, Liverpool |
|
30 Jun 1962 Matinee |
Don Quixote | Don Quixote | Empire Theatre, Liverpool |
|
30 Jun 1962 Evening |
Don Quixote | Don Quixote | Empire Theatre, Liverpool |
|
20 Oct 1954 Evening |
Ballet of the Game of Cards (Scene 6 of the play ‘Joan of Arc at the Stake’)* | Duke of Bedford | Stoll Theatre, London |
|
4 Jul 1955 Evening |
Laiderette* | Guest | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
24 Sep 1956 Evening |
The Mirror* | Guest | King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth |
|
20 Jul 1960 Evening |
The Sylph* | Gurn | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
23 Jun 1965 Evening |
La Sylphide | Gurn (a farmhand) | Coventry Theatre |
|
20 Jul 1960 Evening |
The Sylph* | Gurn, a farmhand | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
17 Jun 1964 Matinee |
Sweet Dancer* | He who loves her | New Theatre, Oxford |
|
15 Jan 1953 Evening |
Past Recalled* | Her Friend | Connaught Theatre, Worthing |
|
28 Jun 1955 Evening |
Past Recalled | Her Friend | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
16 Jun 1960 Evening |
The Lilac Garden | Her Lover | Essoldo Theatre, Brighton |
|
15 Apr 1965 Evening |
Giselle* | Hilarion, a gamekeeper | Theatre Royal, Nottingham |
|
16 Jun 1960 Evening |
The Wise Monkeys* | His Less Conscientious Monkey | Essoldo Theatre, Brighton |
|
17 Nov 1952 Evening |
Carnival of the Animals* | Introduction by the Lion | Her Majesty's Theatre, Brighton |
|
8 Jul 1952 Evening |
Bar aux Folies-Bergère | Le Vieux Marcheur | Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod |
|
17 Nov 1952 Evening |
Bar aux Folies-Bergère | Le Vieux Marcheur | Her Majesty's Theatre, Brighton |
|
1 Dec 1966 Evening |
Lilac Garden | Man she must Marry | Jeannetta Cochrane Theatre, London |
|
17 Nov 1952 Evening |
Carnival of the Animals* | Mazurka | Her Majesty's Theatre, Brighton |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
Czernyana | Nuages | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
7 May 1956 Evening |
Coppélia (Act III)* | Peasant Dance (Hymen) | Arts Theatre Cambridge |
|
24 Sep 1956 Evening |
Coppélia (Act III) | Peasant Dance (Hymen) | King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth |
|
22 Jul 1957 Evening |
Variations on a Theme | Perpetual Movement | Theatre Royal, Exeter |
|
13 Jul 1964 Evening |
Cul de Sac* | Person from the Crowd | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
17 May 1954 Evening |
Façade (The Original Version) | Popular Song | Oxford Playhouse |
|
10 Jul 1956 Evening |
Façade | Popular Song | Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
Czernyana | Se Habla Espagnol | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
28 Jun 1955 Evening |
Persephone* | Shade | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
23 Mar 1977 Matinee |
Take a Running Jump | Speaker | Wyvern Theatre, Swindon |
|
23 Jul 1962 Evening |
Façade (The Original Version) | Tango Pasodoble | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
13 Jul 1964 Evening |
Façade | Tango Pasodoble | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
15 Apr 1965 Evening |
Façade | Tango Pasodoble | Theatre Royal, Nottingham |
|
18 Jul 1961 Evening |
Night Shadow* | The Baron | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
5 Jul 1977 Evening |
Cruel Garden* | The Black Guard | The Round House, London |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
Laiderette | The Host | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
13 Jul 1964 Evening |
Laiderette | The Host | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
25 May 1959 Evening |
Hazaña* | The Husband | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
Hazaña | The Husband | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
16 Mar 1999 Evening |
Cruel Garden | The Inquisitor | New Victoria Theatre, Woking |
|
17 Mar 1999 Matinee |
Cruel Garden | The Inquisitor | New Victoria Theatre, Woking |
|
17 Mar 1999 Evening |
Cruel Garden | The Inquisitor | New Victoria Theatre, Woking |
|
18 Mar 1999 Evening |
Cruel Garden | The Inquisitor | New Victoria Theatre, Woking |
|
25 May 1999 Evening |
Cruel Garden | The Inquisitor | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
5 Jul 1977 Evening |
Cruel Garden* | The Lizard | The Round House, London |
|
23 Jul 1962 Evening |
Night Shadow | The Poet | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
20 Oct 1954 Evening |
Giselle Act I | The Prince | Stoll Theatre, London |
|
4 Jul 1955 Evening |
Giselle | The Prince | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
25 May 1959 Evening |
Giselle | The Prince | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
25 Jul 1961 Evening |
A Place in the Desert* | The Village Elder | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
1 Jun 1959 Evening |
Czernyana | Trop Symphonique | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |
|
17 May 1954 Evening |
Façade (The Original Version) | Yodelling Song | Oxford Playhouse |
|
10 Jul 1956 Evening |
Façade | Yodelling Song | Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod |
|
14 Aug 1958 Evening |
Two Brothers* | Young Man | Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury |
|
20 Jul 1960 Evening |
Two Brothers | Young Man | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |