On 17 July, the Royal Opera House will host an afternoon celebrating the 75th birthday of former Royal Ballet Principal dancer Wayne Sleep, with a performance by Sleep himself and guests including Dame Felicity Lott.
Sleep rose quickly through the ranks at The Royal Ballet, and many roles were created for him by Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Ninette de Valois, Rudolf Nureyev, Gillian Lynne and John Neumeier. These included George Robertson Sinclair in Enigma Variations, Kolia in A Month in the Country, the leading revolutionary in Anastasia, the Beggar Chief in Manon and a part in Elite Syncopations. Over five decades, he brought dance to audiences across the globe as a performer, director, choreographer and philanthropist.
He also created the role of Mister Mistoffelees in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats and was the Emcee in Gillian Lynne’s West End production of Cabaret. His dance show Dash was the first company to combine ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary in one performance.
The birthday celebration will reflect on highlights of his career, and is a co-production between The Royal Ballet, Janie Dee and the Wayne Sleep Foundation.