Marguerite Porter

Who is Marguerite Porter?

Marguerite Porter is an English former principal ballet dancer, turned actress and choreographer.

Born in Doncaster, Porter trained in Yorkshire and at the Royal Ballet School in London, where she was taught by Dame Ninette De Valois.

After two years training she joined The Royal Ballet, where she is now a Governor, becoming Senior Principal Ballerina in 1978. In a 20 year association, she danced all the major roles, including Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake alongside Rudolf Nureyev, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Ophelia in Hamlet, and the title role in productions of Manon, Giselle, Daphnis and Chloe among others.

After leaving the Royal Ballet, she became a guest artiste for a further three years, during which time she published be autobiography Ballerina, A Dancer’s Life. She has made numerous appearances with English National Ballet.

Porter made her Broadway debut as the Queen in Matthew Bourne’s production of Swan Lake. She also made a video based on ballet called Balletcise.