Anya Linden

Who is Anya Linden?

Anya Linden, Lady Sainsbury of Preston Candover is a retired English ballerina. She spent her childhood in California, where she received her early training with Koslov in Hollywood. She returned to England in 1947 and studied at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, joining the company in 1951. She was promoted to soloist 1954 and to ballerina 1958. She married John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover in 1963 and retired from dancing in 1965. In 1987 she founded the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design to identify and encourage talented newcomers to the field of theatre design.