Sir Anthony James Dowell CBE (born February 16, 1943) is a retired British ballet dancer and a former artistic director of the Royal Ballet from 1986–2001. He is widely recognized as one of the great danseurs nobles of the twentieth century. Dowell was born in London and trained with June Hampshire before entering The Royal Ballet School aged ten. In 1960 he graduated into the Covent Garden Opera Ballet, transferring to The Royal Ballet the following year. He was promoted to Principal in 1966. Dowell created his first role in 1964as Oberon in Frederick Ashton’sThe Dream. The ballet also saw the beginning of Dowell’s partnership with Sibley, who created the role of Titania. Further significant role creations included Des Grieux (Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon) and Beliaev (Ashton’s A Month in the Country). International appearances included dancing as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre from the 1978/9 season on, and appearing in Ken Russell’s film Valentino (1977).
The Beatles Forever
(Self)
The Nutcracker - The Royal Ballet
(Drosselmeyer)
The Prince of the Pagodas
(The Emperor)
The Nutcracker
(Sugar Plum Fairy's Prince)
Swan Lake
(Prince Siegfried)
Cinderella
(The Prince)
A Month in the Country
(Beliaev)
Valentino
(Vaslav Nijinsky)
Ashton: The Dream
(Oberon)
Romeo and Juliet
(Benvolio)
Peter and the Wolf
(Grandfather)
Darcey's Ballet Heroes
The Sleeping Beauty
(Carabosse)
Great Performances
(Drosselmeyer)
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (The Royal Ballet)
(Director)
The Sleeping Beauty
(Producer)
The Sleeping Beauty
(Choreographer)
A Month in the Country
(Stage Director)
Swan Lake
(Director)
Peter and the Wolf
(Presenter)
The Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty
(Choreographer)
The Sleeping Beauty
(Creative Consultant)
The Sleeping Beauty (Royal Ballet)
(Choreographer)
Tales of Beatrix Potter (The Royal Ballet)
(Production Director)