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Dancer and actor born in
Mt. Gambier, South Australia on 9th April, 1909.
He began his dance training as a child and studied with the touring
Pavlova company in 1926. In Sydney, in 1927, he first appeared
professionally.
In 1933 he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet (which later became Sadler's Wells
and later the Royal Ballet) in London. He was principal dancer from
1933-1950 and danced opposite Margot Fonteyn in the 1940s.
Helpmann produced his own
ballets - Comus in 1942, Hamlet in 1942, Miracle in the
Gorbals in 1946 and Adam Zero in 1946.
He took to acting Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival and at the Old Vic
theatre company in London. He appeared in many films including The
Tales Of Hoffmann.
From 1965-74 he co-directed the Australian Ballet and was sole director in
1975-76, ballets being performed including The Merry Widow, Sun Music and Elektra.
In 1965 he was Australian of the Year and was later knighted in 1968.
Helpmann died in Sydney on 28 September 1986.
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