Kenneth MacMillan | Opéra national de Paris | Knighted in 1983

Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, on December 11, 1929. He trained at Sadler's Wells Ballet School and joined the company in 1946, then shifted from performing to choreography. His 1955 work *Danses concertantes* established him as a choreographer of consequence. In 1965, he created *Romeo and Juliet*, the full-length narrative ballet that would define his career and expand ballet's dramatic reach. MacMillan directed the West Berlin Opera Ballet before returning to London in 1970 to lead The Royal Ballet. He resigned from that post in 1977 to concentrate on choreography, creating *Manon* in 1974 and *Mayerling* in 1978—works that combined classical technique with psychologically detailed characterization and ensemble storytelling. He remained principal choreographer of The Royal Ballet and later served as associate director of American Ballet Theatre. MacMillan's repertory spans from shorter works including *The Invitation* and *The Rite of Spring* to the full-length narratives for which he is best remembered. He died on October 29, 1992.