Lynn Seymour

Who is Lynn Seymour?

Lynn Seymour is a retired Canadian ballerina and choreographer.

She was born Lynn Springbett and studied ballet in Vancouver.

In 1953 she was auditioned by Sir Frederick Ashton and given a scholarship to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School. There she was in a class with Antoinette Sibley and Marcia Haydée - "perhaps the greatest constellation of talent ever seen in one classroom".

In 1956 she joined Covent Garden Opera Ballet, then moved to the Touring Royal Ballet in 1957 and a year later to the Royal Ballet as a soloist, becoming principal in 1959.

Her first created role was the Adolescent in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's The Burrow, the first of many ballets on which she worked with the choreographer. Her lyrical technique and intense dramatic powers were developed through the wide range of roles which she created with him including the Girl in Invitation, the Fiancée in Baiser de la fée and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

These works established her as the leading dance-actress of her generation, but she also danced the classic roles including Odette-Odile Giselle and Aurora, and created roles in Sir Frederick Ashton ballets including the Young Girl in The Two Pigeons in which she began a much praised partnership with Christopher Gable.