Lynn Seymour

Infobox Person


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name = Lynn Seymour
birth_name = Lynn Springbett
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birth_date = birth date and age|1939|03|8
birth_place = flagicon|Canada Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
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occupation = Ballet dancer
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Lynn Seymour (born Wainwright; 8 March 1939) is a retired Canadian ballerina. She was born Lynn Springbett and studied dancing in Vancouver. In 1953, she was auditioned by Sir Frederick Ashton and given a scholarship to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School. There she was in a class with Antoinette Sibley and Marcia Haydee "perhaps the greatest constellation of talent ever seen in one classroom" [ [http://www.ballet.co.uk/old/legend_js_lynn_seymour.htm ballet.co - Legend ] ] . In 1956, she joined the Covent Garden Opera Ballet and the following year joined the Royal Ballet. She was promoted to principal in 1959. The first solo role she created was as an Adolescent in Kenneth Macmillan's ballet "The Burrow". She was "a dancer with lyrical technique and intense dramatic power" [ [http://www.ballerinagallery.com/seymour.htm Lynn Seymour ] ] . She became Kenneth Macmillan's muse [ [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp06325 Lynn Seymour (1939-), Ballerina ] ] as her first major role catapulted her to stardom as the Girl in Macmillan's "Invitation" in 1960. She formed a partnership with Christopher Gable which began with the lead roles in Ashton's "Two Pigeons" in 1961. From 1966 to 1969 she was prima ballerina at Berlin Opera Ballet under Macmillan's direction. She performed as a guest artist with the London Festival Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and American Ballet Theatre [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/lynn-seymour Lynn Seymour: Definition and Much More from Answers.com ] ] . She returned to the Royal Ballet in 1971 as principal guest ballerina until 1978. She left to become the ballet director for the Bavarian State Opera until 1980. In 1981 she briefly returned to the Royal Ballet before retiring.

Notable roles

* Girl, Macmillan's "Invitation" - 1960
* Fiancée, Macmillan's "Baiser de la fée" - 1960
* Young girl, Ashton's "Two Pigeons" - 1961
* Juliet, Macmillan's "Romeo and Juliet" - 1965
* Anna Andersen, Macmillan's "Anastasia" (one-act) - 1967
* Grand Duches Anastasi, Macmillan's "Anastasia" (three-acts) - 1971
* Natalia Petrovna, Ashton's "A Month in the Country" - 1976
* Mary Vetsera, Macmillan's "Mayerling" - 19782006-2007--she became director of the ballet of the Greek national opera

References