Darcey Bussell CBE

There aren’t many ballerinas who have managed to make the leap from dance fame to worldwide celebrity. Darcey Bussell is one of the few that have.

Ever since she became the youngest ever principal ballerina at the Royal Ballet aged just 20, Bussell has captured the hearts of audiences around the world with her grace and emotion. During her career, she has performed with the New York City Ballet, the Kirov Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet, playing the lead role in both classical and contemporary productions.

Bussell’s poise and outgoing personality has seen her feature in the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair, whilst her image has appeared at Madame Tussauds and the National Portrait Gallery. She has also modelled for Mulberry, Marks & Spencer, the Gold Council and De Beers Diamonds.

Awarded an OBE at the age of 25, Bussell has gone on to become one of Britain’s most popular and recognisable female personalities. Who else could entrance an audience at the Royal Opera House, then have the humour to perform in a delightfully funny sketch for the hit television comedy The Vicar of Dibley?

Although she was a relative latecomer to the world of ballet, the late choreographer Kenneth MacMillan saw something exceptional in her technique and cast her in a principal role while still a student. He chose her for more leading roles until Bussell was promoted to the role of principal at the Royal Ballet in 1990.

Away from the stage, Bussell has used her years of Pilates training to good effect, by becoming the author of two best selling pilates / workout books and a pilates DVD. The global demand for the book was such that Penguin has published Darcey Bussell’s Pilates for Life in 6 languages.

After 18 years as the country’s favourite ballerina, Bussell decided it was time to retire and spend more time with her family. Her last performance was at the Royal Opera House in June 2007, fittingly in MacMillan’s ballet Song of the Earth. As always, she left the audience wanting more.

Retirement has not kept Darcey out of the limelight, her 'Viva La Diva' style show with Katherine Jenkins was an outstanding success and sold out throughout the country. Darcey has also expanded her writing career to include a series of childrens ballet books, "Magic Ballerina."

www.darceybussell.com

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Personal details

Date of birth: 27 April 1969

Place of birth: London

Honours and achievements

2008: United talents with singer Katherine Jenkins in the musical Viva La Diva

2007: Retired from the Royal Ballet

2006: Awarded CBE

2005: Darcey Bussell’s Pilates for Life is best-selling fitness book

2005: Joined Tony Blair’s trade delegation to China

1998: Danced with the Kirov in St Petersburg