Dynamo, Michael Somes A Life in The Royal Ballet

Michael Somes is the unsung hero of The Royal Ballet - the dynamo driving performances as dancer and partner to Margot Fonteyn and as overseer of performances in the company's greatest years.

From humble beginnings, he challenged the prevailing prejudice against male dancers to become a star and a maker of stars, serving The Royal Ballet longer and contributing more to its development than anyone except its founder, Ninette de Valois. The Royal Ballet was his life.

Somes was born in 1917whe...