Beryl Grey

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Dame Beryl Grey in 2006

Dame Beryl Elizabeth Grey, née Groom, DBE, DMus, DLitt, Ed.D, FRSA (b. 11 June 1927, Highgate) is a British ballet dancer and ballerina.

She began dance classes while attending Sherbourne Preparatory School, and by age 8 was being taught ballet by Phyllis Bedells. Her talent was recognised by Ursula Moreton and Ninette de Valois who offered her a scholarship for four years with the option of joining their dance company for a further four years.

In 1941, Beryl Grey was taken into the company. She danced Swan Lake as Odette/Odile on her 15th birthday, Giselle at 16, and The Sleeping Beauty at age 19. She danced many classical and modern roles including Les Sylphides, Checkmate, The Three-Cornered Hat and Les Rendezvous. From 1957 until the mid-1960s Grey was an international guest ballerina across Europe, South America, Australasia, the Far East, the USA and Canada.

She married Dr. Sven Gustav Svenson in 1950; they had one son.

She was the first western guest artist to dance with the Bolshoi Ballet (1957-1958), and to appear with the Peking Ballet and Shanghai Company (with a Chinese partner) in 1964.

After two years as the Director of the Arts Educational Schools and Teacher Training College, Beryl Grey became the Artistic Director of London Festival Ballet from 1968 until 1979. She also stood as a Governor with London College of Dance in 1966, becoming Vice-Chairman in 1984 until her retirement in 1993.

She is/was also affiliated with:

Royal Academy of Dance (Vice-President)
British Federation of Music Festivals
President of Dance Council of Wales
Vice-Chairman of the Governors of the Royal Ballet and Dance Teachers Benevolent Fund
Chair of the Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund
Director of the Royal Opera House