People

Biography: Dancer with Ballet Rambert 1952-1964; Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert 1966-1970; Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert 1970-1974.

Norman Morrice trained at the Rambert School and joined Ballet Rambert as a dancer in 1953, after performing with the company as a student during its previous season. He choreographed his first work ‘Two Brothers’ in 1958, drawing inspiration from the film ‘East of Eden’. In 1961-1962 he studied modern dance techniques in New York City with Martha Graham among others.

Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert in 1966, Morrice oversaw its restructuring from a mid-scale ballet company which performed the classics to a small-scale group of soloists who embraced modern dance techniques. He was Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert 1970-1974. He choreographed 18 works for the company.

During his career, Morrice completed international commissions for Batsheva Dance Company, Tanz Forum Cologne, Australian Dance Theatre and Australian Ballet. He served as director of The Royal Ballet 1977-1986 and was the director of Choreographic Studies at the Royal Ballet School 1987-2000. He was awarded the Royal Academy of Dance Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for services to dance in 1974.

Archive catalogue: DS/UK/12

Works

1 - 2 - 3 (Morrice, 1968). Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/204/1

1 - 2 - 3
Norman Morrice, 1968

Blind-Sight (Morrice, 1969): (back row) Peter Curtis, Mary Prestidge; (middle row) Amanda Knott, Paul Taras, Julia Blaikie, Pietje Law, Gideon Avrahami; (front row) Susan Cooper, Sylvia Byrne, Jonathan Taylor. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/212/1

Blind-Sight
Norman Morrice, 1969

Conflicts (Morrice, 1962). Photo © Allegro Studios. RDC/PD/01/182/1

Conflicts
Norman Morrice, 1962

Cul de Sac (Morrice, 1964). Photo © Mike Davis. RDC/PD/01/184/1

Cul de Sac
Norman Morrice, 1964

The Empty Suit (Morrice, 1970): Mary Willis, Nicoline Nystrom, Gideon Avrahami. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/220/1

The Empty Suit
Norman Morrice, 1970

Hazaña (Morrice, 1959). Photo © Ralph Koltai. RDC/PD/01/174/1

Hazaña
Norman Morrice, 1959

Hazard (Morrice, 1967). Photo © Victor Welch. RDC/PD/01/196/1

Hazard
Norman Morrice, 1967

Isolde (Morrice, 1973). Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/248/1

Isolde
Norman Morrice, 1973

Ladies Ladies! (Morrice, 1972). Photographer unknown.

Ladies Ladies!
Norman Morrice, 1972

Pastorale Variée (Morrice, 1969): Amanda Knott, Paul Taras. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/210/1

Pastorale Variée
Norman Morrice, 1969

A Place in the Desert (Morrice, 1961). Photo © Allegro Studios. RDC/PD/01/180/2

A Place in the Desert
Norman Morrice, 1961

The Realms of Choice (Morrice, 1965). Photo © Allegro Studios. RDC/PD/01/187/1

The Realms of Choice
Norman Morrice, 1965

The Sea Whisper’d Me (Morrice, 1976). Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/271/1

The sea whisper'd me
Norman Morrice, 1976

Smiling Immortal (Morrice, 1977): Lucy Burge, Zoltan Imre, John Chesworth. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/282/1

Smiling Immortal
Norman Morrice, 1977

Solo (Morrice, 1971): John Chesworth and Sandra Craig, reproduced from contact sheet. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/227/1

Solo
Norman Morrice, 1971

Spindrift (Morrice, 1974). Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/249/1

Spindrift
Norman Morrice, 1974

That is the Show (Morrice, 1971): Sandra Craig (front left). Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/222/1

That is the Show
Norman Morrice, 1971

Them and Us (Morrice, 1968): reproduced from contact sheet. Photo © Alan Cunliffe. RDC/PD/01/205/1

Them and Us
Norman Morrice, 1968

The Travellers (Morrice, 1963). Photo © Frederika Davis. RDC/PD/01/183/1

The Travellers
Norman Morrice, 1963

Two Brothers (Morrice, 1958). Photo © J.D. O'Callaghan. RDC/PD/01/172/1

Two Brothers
Norman Morrice, 1958

The Wise Monkeys (Morrice, 1960). Photo © R. Wilsher. RDC/PD/01/176/2

The Wise Monkeys
Norman Morrice, 1960

Performances

Date ↿⇂	Dance Work ↿⇂	Role ↿⇂	Venue ↿⇂
21 Apr 1954 Evening	The Bartered Bride (dances in the opera)^*	Dancer	Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, England
24 Apr 1954 Evening	The Bartered Bride (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, England
17 May 1954 Evening	Façade (The Original Version)	Scotch Rhapsody	Oxford Playhouse
17 May 1954 Evening	Winter Night	Dancer	Oxford Playhouse
20 May 1954 Evening	The Life and Death of Lola Montez (1816-1861)^*	Dancer	Oxford Playhouse
20 May 1954 Evening	Swan Lake Act II	Huntsman	Oxford Playhouse
21 Jun 1954 Evening	Winter Night	Dancer	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
21 Jun 1954 Evening	Variations on a Theme^*	Chorus	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
20 Oct 1954 Evening	Giselle Act I	Courtier	Stoll Theatre, London
20 Oct 1954 Evening	Ballet of the Game of Cards (Scene 6 of the play ‘Joan of Arc at the Stake’)^*	Death	Stoll Theatre, London
28 Jun 1955 Evening	Past Recalled	Her Friend	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
28 Jun 1955 Evening	Persephone^*	Shade	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
30 Jun 1955 Evening	The Life and Death of Lola Montez (1818-1861)	Dancer	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
30 Jun 1955 Evening	The Lilac Garden	Guest	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
4 Jul 1955 Evening	Giselle	Huntsman	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
4 Jul 1955 Evening	Laiderette^*	Guest	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
7 May 1956 Evening	Swan Lake (Act II)	Huntsman	Arts Theatre Cambridge
7 May 1956 Evening	Winter Night	Dancer	Arts Theatre Cambridge
7 May 1956 Evening	Coppélia (Act III)^*	Pas-de-Six	Arts Theatre Cambridge
10 Jul 1956 Evening	Winter Night	Dancer	Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
10 Jul 1956 Evening	Façade	Scotch Rhapsody	Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
24 Sep 1956 Evening	The Mirror^*	Guest	King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth
24 Sep 1956 Evening	Coppélia (Act III)	Pas de Six	King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth
24 Sep 1956 Evening	Swan Lake (Act II)	Huntsman	King's Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth
17 Jan 1957 Evening	Coppélia^*	Coppélius, a toymaker	Theatre Royal, York
22 Jul 1957 Evening	Plaisance	Dancer	Theatre Royal, Exeter
22 Jul 1957 Evening	Variations on a Theme	Perpetual Movement	Theatre Royal, Exeter
22 Jul 1957 Evening	Conte Fantastique^*	Courtier	Theatre Royal, Exeter
22 Jul 1957 Evening	The Gala Performance	Cavalier	Theatre Royal, Exeter
12 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France
13 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France
15 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France
16 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris, France
27 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
29 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
30 May 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)^*	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
31 May 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
1 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
4 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
5 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
6 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
7 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
8 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
10 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
12 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
13 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)^*	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
14 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
15 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
17 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
18 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
19 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
20 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Falstaff (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
21 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Alceste (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
22 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
25 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
27 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
29 Jun 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
5 Jul 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
9 Jul 1958 Time unknown	Le nozze di Figaro (dances in the opera)	Dancer	Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
14 Aug 1958 Evening	Two Brothers^*	His Brother	Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
25 May 1959 Evening	Giselle	Hilarion, a Gamekeeper	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
25 May 1959 Evening	Giselle	Hilarion	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
25 May 1959 Evening	Hazaña^*	The Local Priest	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
1 Jun 1959 Evening	Laiderette	Guest	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
1 Jun 1959 Evening	Czernyana	Visions	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
1 Jun 1959 Evening	Hazaña	The Local Priest	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
16 Jun 1960 Evening	The Lilac Garden	The Man she must marry	Essoldo Theatre, Brighton
16 Jun 1960 Evening	The Wise Monkeys^*	Her Husband	Essoldo Theatre, Brighton
20 Jul 1960 Evening	The Sylph^*	Villager	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
20 Jul 1960 Evening	The Sylph^*	Her Attendant	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
20 Jul 1960 Evening	The Sylph^*	One of Two Villagers	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
20 Jul 1960 Evening	Two Brothers	His Brother	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
18 Jul 1961 Evening	Night Shadow^*	The Poet	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
25 Jul 1961 Evening	A Place in the Desert^*	A Company Agent	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
28 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote^*	Impresario	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
28 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote^*	Duke of Barcelona	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
29 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote	Impresario	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
29 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote	Duke of Barcelona	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
30 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote	Impresario	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
30 Jun 1962 Evening	Don Quixote	Duke of Barcelona	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
30 Jun 1962 Matinee	Don Quixote	Impresario	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
30 Jun 1962 Matinee	Don Quixote	Duke of Barcelona	Empire Theatre, Liverpool
23 Jul 1962 Evening	Façade (The Original Version)	Popular Song	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
23 Jul 1962 Evening	Façade (The Original Version)	Yodelling Song	Sadler's Wells Theatre, London

Performance Database

Works

Performances

STAY INFORMED