25-636: Ben Stevenson may refer to: Ben Stevenson (dancer) (born 1936), English ballet dancer and artistic director Ben Stevenson (footballer) (born 1997), English footballer, for Forest Green Rovers Ben Stevenson (American football) (1906–1969), American football player Ben Stevenson (rugby union) (born 1998), English Rugby Union player Ben Stevenson (water polo) (born 1995), American water polo player See also [ edit ] Benjamin Stephenson (disambiguation) [REDACTED] Topics referred to by
50-634: A concert tour in South Africa. Throughout his time there, he performed ballets such as the Nutcracker and the Mirage. Upon returning to the states and creating his own Ballet with Mia Slavenska , they performed programs such as Swan Lake and A Streetcar Named Desire. In addition, the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet had the opportunity to go to Japan. In Japan, Franklin was able to bring together Swan Lake with
75-553: A freelance career reviving and staging works around the United States and developed artistic associations with many ballet companies including Cincinnati Ballet where he was artistic director for two years and later Director Emeritus, Dance Theatre of Harlem where he became artistic advisor in 1989, Chicago Ballet , Tulsa Ballet , the Oakland Ballet , Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre , and American Ballet Theatre . In 2005, Franklin
100-517: A principal dancer, he performed leading roles in all the classics. In 1967, the English National Ballet asked him to stage his first ballet, the highly successful production of The Sleeping Beauty, which starred Dame Margot Fonteyn . A year after staging the ballet in England, Stevenson arrived in the United States, lending his vast talents and experience to productions across the country. At
125-432: A regional troupe to an internationally acclaimed ensemble. Since joining TBT, he has established himself as a prominent member of the local arts community, demonstrating his commitment to the future of ballet through education, collaboration, and his artistic vision. In 2022, Stevenson was named Artistic Director Laureate in recognition of his lengthy tenure. Stevenson was succeeded as Artistic Director by Tim O'Keefe. In
150-568: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ben Stevenson (dancer) Ben Stevenson OBE (born 4 April 1936), is a former ballet dancer with Britain's Royal Ballet and English National Ballet , co-director of National Ballet of Washington, D.C. (1971–1974), artistic director of Chicago Ballet (1974-1975), artistic director of Houston Ballet (1976–2003), and artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater (2003–2022). A native of Portsmouth , England, Stevenson received his dance training at
175-684: The Arts Educational School in London. Upon his graduation, he was awarded the prestigious Adeline Genée Gold Medal, the highest award give to a dancer by the Royal Academy of Dancing . At the age of 18, Stevenson was invited to join the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet by Dame Ninette de Valois . A few years later, Anton Dolin invited him to dance with the London Festival Ballet , where, as
200-585: The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo where he was premier danseur until 1952. Known as a quick study and for having an impeccable memory, Franklin also became the company's ballet master in 1944. With the Ballet Russe, Franklin originated many indelible characters and starred in over 45 principal roles by such choreographers as Leonide Massine , Michel Fokine , Bronislava Nijinska , Frederick Ashton , George Balanchine , and Agnes de Mille . In 1949, Franklin went on
225-597: The Bruce Beresford 2009 film Mao's Last Dancer , Stevenson was portrayed by Canadian actor Bruce Greenwood . Stevenson has received numerous awards for his choreography, including three gold medals at the Varna International Ballet Competitions of 1972, 1982, and 1986. In addition, he has staged his ballets for the Harkness Ballet , English National Ballet , American Ballet Theatre ,
250-577: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. After a brief association with Ruth Page's Chicago Ballet , in 1976, Stevenson was appointed artistic director of the Houston Ballet , which he developed into one of America's leading ballet companies. During his tenure, he expanded the company's repertory by acquiring the works of the world's most respected choreographers, commissioning new works, staging
275-792: The Paris Opera Ballet , La Scala in Milan , Rome Opera House , the Munich State Opera Ballet , The Joffrey Ballet , London City Ballet , Ballet de Santiago , The Perm State P. I. Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre and for many companies in the United States. For his contributions to international dance, Mr. Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in December 1999. In April 2000, he
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#1732855230691300-621: The 1924 film Peter Pan , his only thought was to go on the stage. He began his career in 1931 at the Casino de Paris with Josephine Baker . In his time in England, Franklin performed with Wendy Toye and Anton Dolin in acts such as the cabaret, variety, concert ballet, vaudeville, and theater. After briefly dancing with the Vic-Wells Ballet, forerunner of The Royal Ballet, he joined the Markova-Dolin Ballet in 1935. In 1938 Franklin joined
325-499: The Ballet of Monte Carlo School on Madison Ave. While performing internationally with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Franklin and Alexandra Danilova created one of the legendary ballet partnerships of the twentieth century. Among the other ballerinas he partnered were Alicia Markova , Yvette Chauviré , Moira Shearer , Rosella Hightower , Maria Tallchief , Tamara Toumanova , and Alicia Alonso . In addition, he performed roles such as
350-813: The Baron in Gaite Parisienne , the Baron in Night Shadow (La Sonnambula) , and the Champion Roper in Rodeo. In the 1950s, Franklin also gained experienced when he went to Puerto Rico after a call from Juan Anduze. Upon his return to the states in 1962, he went to Washington D.C, where he joined the National Ballet as founding director, and stayed with them for 12 years. On the opening night of National Ballet of Washington, D.C. following his return, there were 100 musicians of
375-653: The Hollywood star was 13. In 2003, he was named Director Emeritus of Houston Ballet and the company's academy was renamed the Ben Stevenson Academy . In July 2003, Stevenson accepted the position of artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth . As the longest-serving artistic director in Texas Ballet Theater history, Stevenson has been instrumental in elevating Texas Ballet Theater (TBT) from
400-668: The National Symphony Orchestra, an abundance of magazine and news crews, and choreographer George Balanchine also came to watch. In 1952, Franklin co-founded the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet with Mia Slavenska and a few years later he became the co-director of the Washington Ballet , and then the co-founder and artistic director of the National Ballet of Washington, D.C. In his lifetime, Franklin choreographed three pieces. In 1958, he created his first ever piece for
425-519: The Washington Ballet called Etalage. His second piece is called Homage Au Ballet which was also for the Washington Ballet in 1963. His final piece is called The Tribute which was for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1962. According to an interview Franklin had done, he best choreographs by visualizing the dancers and their movements in his head. After a few years in Washington, D.C., Franklin began
450-453: The classics and choreographing original works. During this time as artistic director of America's fifth-biggest ballet company, and when Barbara Bush was a trustee of the company, in 1978 Stevenson visited Beijing and offered the Chinese dancer, Li Cunxin a six-week scholarship to America and later on his defection, offered him a position with the company. Cunxin returned where he danced at
475-741: The gala at Stevenson's retirement after 27 years with the Houston Ballet. Stevenson has been called "a master of the traditional story ballet." He's choreographed in Paris and Beijing, the National Ballet at the Kennedy Center, the Joffrey Ballet in New York, and La Scala in Milan, among other locations. He worked with Margot Fonteyn , one of the 20th century's great ballerinas. He taught Jane Seymour dance when
500-417: The help of Japanese children. However, the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet had begun to experience extreme financial difficulties. As a result, in 1955, Franklin returned to the city and was able to rejoin the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's 1957 season was extremely special because it was the 20-year anniversary as well as Franklin's last show with them. After, Franklin briefly taught at
525-411: The request of Rebekah Harkness , he journeyed to New York where he assumed the position of Artistic Director of the Harkness Ballet . After choreographing Cinderella in 1970 for the National Ballet of Washington, D.C. , he joined the company in 1971 as co-director with Frederic Franklin . That same year, he staged a new production of The Sleeping Beauty in observance of the inaugural season of
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#1732855230691550-407: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Stevenson&oldid=1089800459 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
575-791: Was featured in the documentary film Ballets Russes , recounting his years with the famous company. Into his 90s, Franklin continued to perform with American Ballet Theatre , appearing in mime roles such as the Friar in Romeo and Juliet , Madge in La Sylphide , and the Prince's Tutor in Swan Lake . Franklin died from pneumonia in New York City at the Weill Cornell Medical Center on 4 May 2013. He
600-674: Was presented with the Dance Magazine Award. In 2018, Stevenson was acknowledged by the Chinese government as one of the most influential Foreign Experts in the past 40 years since China initiated its policy on Reform and Opening Up. Frederic Franklin Frederic Franklin CBE (13 June 1914 – 4 May 2013), sometimes also called "Freddie", was a British-American ballet dancer, choreographer and director. Born in Liverpool , England, Frederic Franklin claimed that on seeing
625-566: Was survived by his partner of 48 years, William Haywood Ausman, and his brother, John Franklin. In 1984, Frederic Franklin was honored with a Laurence Olivier Award for his staging of a Creole-themed Giselle starring Virginia Johnson at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Franklin received the Dance Magazine Award in 1985 and the Capezio Dance Award in 1992. On 16 November 2004 Franklin was appointed a Commander of The Most Excellent Order of
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