Difference between revisions of "Frank Staff"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "(1918-1971) Influential ballet dancer and choreographer. Born in Kimberley, he left the country to work internationally for Ballet Rambert, Sadler's Wells, the Metropolitan Balle...")
 
Line 1: Line 1:
(1918-1971) Influential ballet dancer and choreographer. Born in Kimberley, he left the country to work internationally for Ballet Rambert, Sadler's Wells, the Metropolitan Ballet  and other companies. Returned in 1955 to found The South African Ballet for which he choreographed 15 dances. His most notable work in terms of theatre history is his works based on South African stories and works and became a precursor of the influential modern dance and physical theatre movements which developed to full strength in the late 1980s. His seminal versions of N.P. van Wyk Louw's poem ''Raka'' and the narrative of the Rain Queen were filmed.  STAFF, Frank. Dancer and choreographer. Married to [[Heather Lloyd-Jones]]. Later divorced. He did the choreography for the hit musical comedy ''[[Irma la Douce]]'', staged by the [[Brooke]] company in 1960, starring [[Heather Lloyd-Jones]], [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[John Whiteley]] and [[Robert Haber]]. It toured all the major cities and the Rhodesias. He did choreography for [[Brian Brooke]] and [[John Kavan]]’s co-directed show, ''[[The Minstrel Show]]'', which they stage in 1966.  
+
[[Frank Staff]] (1918-1971) was an influential ballet dancer and choreographer.  
 +
 
 +
Born in Kimberley, he left the country to work internationally for Ballet Rambert, Sadler's Wells, the Metropolitan Ballet  and other companies. Returned in 1955 to found The South African Ballet for which he choreographed 15 dances, and worked for the Perfoming Arts Councils (inter alia PACOFS) and for private companies.
 +
 
 +
Married to [[Heather Lloyd-Jones]], whom he later divorced and long time partner of [[Veronica Paeper]].  
 +
 
 +
His most notable work in terms of theatre history is his works based on South African stories and works and became a precursor of the influential modern dance and physical theatre movements which developed to full strength in the late 1980s.  
 +
 
 +
His seminal versions of [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]]'s poem ''[[Raka]]'' and the narrative of [[The Rain Queen]] actually Both performances were also filmed.   
 +
 
 +
Other stage productions include the choreography for Brian Brooke's ''[[Irma la Douce]]'' (1960) and [[Brian Brooke]] and [[John Kavan]]’s ''[[The Minstrel Show]]'' (1966).  
  
 
== Sources ==  
 
== Sources ==  
Tucker, 1997
+
 
 +
Programme, ''[[Raka]]'', [[Cape Town City Ballet]], [[KKNK]], April,
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Percy Tucker]], 1997
  
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]

Revision as of 18:11, 14 October 2018

Frank Staff (1918-1971) was an influential ballet dancer and choreographer.

Born in Kimberley, he left the country to work internationally for Ballet Rambert, Sadler's Wells, the Metropolitan Ballet and other companies. Returned in 1955 to found The South African Ballet for which he choreographed 15 dances, and worked for the Perfoming Arts Councils (inter alia PACOFS) and for private companies.

Married to Heather Lloyd-Jones, whom he later divorced and long time partner of Veronica Paeper.

His most notable work in terms of theatre history is his works based on South African stories and works and became a precursor of the influential modern dance and physical theatre movements which developed to full strength in the late 1980s.

His seminal versions of N.P. van Wyk Louw's poem Raka and the narrative of The Rain Queen actually Both performances were also filmed.

Other stage productions include the choreography for Brian Brooke's Irma la Douce (1960) and Brian Brooke and John Kavan’s The Minstrel Show (1966).

Sources

Programme, Raka, Cape Town City Ballet, KKNK, April,


Percy Tucker, 1997

Return to ESAT Personalities S

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page