Dame Marie Rambert, ballet company founder, keeping fit

1954 - KEEPING FIT THE EASY WAY AT AN AGE when her contemporaries are spending their time in wheelchairs, Dame Marie Rambert, founder of the oldest British ballet company, keeps herself fit by rolling down hills, because fourteen years ago at the age of 70 she was ordered to give up cartwheels! This order came from her late husband, Ashley Dukes, a successful playwright in his own right, and author of A Load of Mischief'. This play was so well received that he was able to buy his wife the Mercury Theatre, Haymarket on the profits and this is where she opened her own ballet school. Previous to this she leased a studio. Rolling down hills is a wonderful exercise, all that fresh air and a feeling of complete freedom, said Dame Marie Rambert, who recently saw her autobiography published. Born in Warsaw in 1888, Dame Marie was nicknamed Quicksilver by her nanny and this is the title given to her book. Often my career was beset by lack of financial support, she recalls, but never once did she lose her creative ability to make artistic miracles on a shoestring, or her immense flair for encouraging young talent, whether as dancers or as choreographers. I have been much too lucky in my life - I should be on my knees all day. I have love, children, grandchildren, success and happiness. Dame Marie is the kind of uninhibited woman who is not depressed for long. If she feels a blue mood creeping in she goes off and rolls down a hill! Photograph shows: Dame Marie Rambert exercises by rolling down a grassy hill and at her Kensington home

Picture No

13198560

Media ID

46942824

Size

4393px x 5471px (1.4MB)

Credit

Usage Restrictions

Editorial Use Only - No Property or Model Releases. For any non-editorial use, please contact Mary Evans direct

Source

Keystone Pictures USA