DANSOX presents a one-day conference on the life and work of the great twentieth-century choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992). MacMillan stands among the great innovators of his time in theatre, film, art, and music. The conference will discuss his work, the challenges of preserving the record, explore little known early work, his literary and musical choices, design, and choreographic method.

Guest speakers include: the artist and widow of Sir Kenneth, Lady MacMillan; the former Principal and Director of the Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason; the music expert, Natalie Wheen; and choreologist, Anna Trevien. Dancers, artists, and filmmakers who worked with Kenneth will join the conversation. A performance/lecture of the reconstruction of Playground with Yorke Dance will be held in the JdP at the end of the conference.

The event is free but please book tickets.

DANSOX is a major forum for dance scholarship in Europe. Find out more about this research network from its Founder and Director, Professor Sue Jones, in this video.

Conference Timetable

10.00am Coffee and welcome in the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building

10.15am Opening address, Dame Monica Mason, ‘Working with Kenneth MacMillan’.

10.45am Reconstruction

Anna Trévien, ‘Kenneth MacMillan: the importance of Benesh Notation’.

Diana Curry, ‘From Page to Stage - Reconstructing MacMillan works from film and notation’.

11.35am Design

Conversation with Deborah MacMillan, ‘Kenneth MacMillan: Designers and Design’

12.10pm Music

GUEST LECTURE Natalie Wheen, 'Kenneth MacMillan and Music'

1.10pm Lunch Jacqueline du Pré foyer

Afternoon sessions in the Dining Hall, South Building:

1.50pm History and Contemporary Contexts

Helena Hammond, ‘British Ballet’s History Man: New Historicism and Staging Old Regime France in MacMillan’s Manon’.

Laura Quinton, ‘Mayerling (1978), The Habsburg Empire, and Kenneth MacMillan’s Historical Imagination’.

Cristina da Lucas, ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre and The Judas Tree’.

3.00pm Discussion

'Dancing for MacMillan' with Susie Crow and Stephen Wicks

3.30pm Friends and Contemporaries

Julia Bührle, ‘John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan and the renewal of the story ballet’.

Jane Pritchard, ‘Peter Darrell, Kenneth Aadams and Kenneth MacMillan’.

4.30pm Tea in the Jacqueline du Pré foyer

4.45pm Playground

Presentation on Revival, Reconstruction, and Performance with Yorke Dance Project, Yolande Yorke, Susie Crow, and Dancers. In the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building.

6.30pm drinks reception Jacqueline du Pré foyer