Philip Chatfield

Philip Chatfield (2 December 1927 – 25 July 2021) was a British born ballet dancer, choreographer and artistic director. He danced for the Royal Ballet and was artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Philip Chatfield
Born2 December 1927
Died25 July 2021(2021-07-25) (aged 93)
Occupation(s)Ballet dancer, artistic director
Employer(s)Royal Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet
Known forBallet
SpouseRowena Jackson

Early life

Chatfield was born in 1927 near Southampton, England, starting ballet at the age of six. He took up a scholarship to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School at the age of 11.[1]

Career
Philip Chatfield and Rowena Jackson on stage in Sydney, 1958

Chatfield became a full-time member at Sadler's Wells (later the Royal Ballet) at the age of 15 in 1943.[1][2] He became a principal dancer in 1955.[2] He performed leading and solo roles.[1]

In 1958–1959 Chatfield toured in Europe, America, New Zealand and Australia with his ballet dancer wife, New Zealander Rowena Jackson.[2] In 1959 Chatfield and Jackson retired from performing and left London to settle in New Zealand. That year, with other dancers such as Russell Kerr and Poul Gnatt, they formed the United Ballet Company which toured New Zealand.[1][3] In the mid–1970s Chatfield became director of the National School of Ballet, with Jackson as associate director.[1] From 1975–1978 Chatfield was artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.[1][4] In 1993 Chatfield and Jackson moved to live near family in Brisbane.[1][5]

Personal life

Chatfield married Rowena Jackson in 1958. They had one son and one daughter.[1]

He died in Brisbane on 25 July 2021.[1]

References
  1. Shennan, Jennifer (7 August 2021). "Obituary: Philip Chatfield, artistic director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. "Chatfield, Philip, 1927-2021". tiaki.natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  3. Shennan, Jennifer (2014). "A national company emerges". teara.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. Shennan, Jennifer (2014). "Building a foundation, 1960s and 1970s". teara.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. Simonot, Suzanne (24 July 2017). "Former Royal Ballet dance stars perfect partners on and off the stage". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.


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