Fifield, Elaine (1930-1999)

Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an36581501
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-677079

Biographies

Elaine Fifield was born in Sydney where she studied at the Frances Scully School and with Leon Kellaway. After winning a Royal Academy of Dance scholarship she went to London and studied briefly at the Sadler's Wells School. She joined Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet in 1947 where she reached the status of principal dancer. In 1954 she joined Sadler's Wells Ballet and became ballerina with that company in 1956. During this English phase of her career Fifield created roles in John Cranko's Trisch Trasch Polka and Pineapple Poll (1951) and in Frederick Ashton's Madame Chrysantheme (1955) and Birthday Offering (1956). During this period of her career she married the conductor John Lanchbery.

Fifield returned to Australia in 1957 to dance with the Borovansky Ballet but retired in 1958. She danced briefly with a small Sydney-based company directed by Robert Pomie and then married a plantation owner from Papua New Guinea, Les Farley. She came back to dancing in 1964 when she joined the Australian Ballet. She danced with the flagship company until 1965 and then again for a short period from 1969. During Fifield's time with the Australian Ballet, Ray Powell created his Beethoven Dances for her (1971). In the 1970s Fifield also guested with West Australian Ballet and with Ballet Victoria when Laurel Martyn created Cloth of Gold (1972) for her and Rex McNeill.

In an obituary in The Times (London) Fifield is described as 'everyone's idea of the perfect dancer: small-boned, her lovely head and neck, beautiful legs and feet were complemented by a true dedication to dance'.

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Resources for Elaine Fifield

Resources by Elaine Fifield (1)

  1. In my shoes / [by] Elaine Fifield with Kevin Perkins
    Fifield, Elaine, 1930-1999
    [ Book : 1900-1989 ]
    At 11 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.072)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 16.072)

Resources about Elaine Fifield (11)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Elaine Fifield, ballet dancer, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.616)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.616)

  2. Elaine Fifield, Casse Noisette / Angus McBean
    McBean, Angus, 1904-1990
    [ Poster, chart, other : 1940 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.989)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.989)

  3. Elaine Fifield in Pineapple Poll ballet, Sadler's Wells company / DeMarney
    DeMarney (Photographer)
    [ Photograph : 1951 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Elaine Fifield in Pineapple Poll ballet, Sadler's Wells company / DeMarney
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.406)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.406)

  4. Australian Ballet performance of Carnaval, with Elaine Fifield as Columbine, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Australian Ballet performance of Carnaval, with Elaine Fifield as Columbine, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.375)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.375)

  5. Australian Ballet performance of Petrouchka, starring Elaine Fifield as the ballerina, c. 1970 [Walter Stringer]
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1970 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Australian Ballet performance of Petrouchka, starring Elaine Fifield as the ballerina, c. 1970 [Walter Stringer]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.374)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.374)

  6. Elaine Fifield as Columbine in the Australian Ballet production of Le Carnaval, 1964 / Walter Stringer
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Elaine Fifield as Columbine in the Australian Ballet production of Le Carnaval, 1964 / Walter Stringer
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.318)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.318)

  7. Elaine Fifield as Columbine in Le carnaval, the Australian Ballet, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Elaine Fifield as Columbine in Le carnaval, the Australian Ballet, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.311)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.311)

  8. Elaine Fifield as Columbine and Alan Alder as Harlequin in Le carnaval, the Australian Ballet, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Elaine Fifield as Columbine and Alan Alder as Harlequin in Le carnaval, the Australian Ballet, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.278)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.278)

  9. Elaine Fifield and Bryan Lawrence in the Australian Ballet production of Les sylphides, 1964 / Walter Stringer
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Elaine Fifield and Bryan Lawrence in the Australian Ballet production of Les sylphides, 1964 / Walter Stringer
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.452)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.452)

  10. [Portrait of Elaine Fifield in Le conservatoire, the Australian Ballet]
    [ Photograph : 1965 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    [Portrait of Elaine Fifield in Le conservatoire, the Australian Ballet]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.547)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.547)

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  1. Powell, Ray (1925-2003)
    ... , and Beethoven Dances created for Elaine Fifield in 1971. Powell ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  2. Lanchbery, John (1923-2003)
    ... Sadler's Wells he met the ballerina Elaine Fifield whom he married but later divorced ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  3. Pomie, Robert (1933-1991)
    ... this season were Pomie and Elaine Fifield, recently returned from ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  1. Le Conservatoire (Australian context)
    Le Conservatoire (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 7 items.

    Le Conservatoire (Konservatoriet) was first presented by the Royal Danish Ballet at the Royal Theatre Copenhagen on 6 May 1849. In creating this work, August Bournonville drew on his forma...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

  2. Pineapple Poll (Australian context)
    Pineapple Poll (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 19 items.

    John Cranko's Pineapple Poll was first staged in Australia by the Borovansky Ballet, premiering on 8 May 1954. This was the first production of the work by a company other than the Sadler'...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

  3. Le Carnaval (Australian context)
    Le Carnaval (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 18 items.

    Michel Fokine's ballet Le Carnaval was first seen in Australia in 1934 when it was presented by the touring Dandre-Levitoff Russian Ballet...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

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  1. Six dancers of Sadler's Wells : Julia Farron, Leslie Edwards, Rosemary Lindsay, Alexander Grant, Elaine Fifield, David Blair / by Cyril Swinson
    Swinson, Cyril
    [ Book : 1956 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.066)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.066)

  2. Six dancers of Sadler's Wells / by Cyril Swinson
    Swinson, Cyril
    [ Book : 1956 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

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  3. Healing technology : feminist perspectives / edited by Kathryn Strother Ratcliff ... [et al.]
    Ratcliff, Kathryn Strother, 1944-
    [ Book : 1989 ]
    At 18 libraries
    Healing technology : feminist perspectives / edited by Kathryn Strother Ratcliff ... [et al.]
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

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  4. Variations on a theme of Purcell
    De Valois, Ninette, 1898-2001
    [ Book : 1955 ]
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

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  1. Elaine Fifield, Casse Noisette / An...
    McBean, Angus, ...
    [ Poster, chart, other : 1940 ]
  2. Elaine Fifield in Pineapple Poll ba...
    DeMarney (Photo...
    [ Photograph : 1951 ]
    Elaine Fifield in Pineapple Poll ballet, Sadler's Wells company / DeMarney
  3. Australian Ballet performance of Ca...
    Stringer, Walte...
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    Australian Ballet performance of Carnaval, with Elaine Fifield as Columbine, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
  4. Australian Ballet performance of Pe...
    Stringer, Walte...
    [ Photograph : 1970 ]
    Australian Ballet performance of Petrouchka, starring Elaine Fifield as the ballerina, c. 1970 [Walter Stringer]
  5. Elaine Fifield as Columbine in the ...
    Stringer, Walte...
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    Elaine Fifield as Columbine in the Australian Ballet production of Le Carnaval, 1964 / Walter Stringer
  6. Elaine Fifield as Columbine in Le c...
    Stringer, Walte...
    [ Photograph : 1964 ]
    Elaine Fifield as Columbine in Le carnaval, the Australian Ballet, 1964 [Walter Stringer]
  1. [Fifield, Elaine (dancer) : programs and related material collected by the National Library of Australia]
    [ Published : 1900 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.084)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.084)

  2. Historical Faculty Files
    University of Utah. Vice President for Academic Affairs Office
    [ Unpublished : 1920 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    Historical Faculty Files
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  3. Papers of Geoffrey Ingram
    Ingram, Geoffrey, 1924-2003
    [ Unpublished : 1930-1970 ]
    At National Library
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  1. Cinderella / music by Sergei Prokofiev ; choreographed and adapted for television by Frederick Ashton ; directed by Clark Jones ; a production of Showcase Productions, Inc
    Royal Ballet
    [ Video : 1957-2004 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    At 2 libraries
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  2. 10 set to solve the problem of Maria.(Broadcast transcript)
    The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
    [ Article, Sound : 2008 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
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  3. Kelvin Coe interviewed by Michelle Potter in the Esso Performing Arts collection
    Coe, Kelvin, 1946-1992
    [ Sound : 1992 ]
    View online
    At National Library
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  4. Paul de Masson interviewed by Michelle Potter
    De Masson, Paul, 1953-2012
    [ Sound : 2011 ]
    View online
    At National Library
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  1. ELAINE FIFIELD EXPECTING CHILD
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 6 April 1954 p 3 Article
    ... ELAINE FIFIELD EXPECTING CHILD « LONDON, April 5 (A.A.P.). -Miss Elaine Fifield,' formerly merly of Sydney, who is now leading ballerina of the Sad- ler's Wells Theatre Company, is expecting a baby this month. Her husband is Sadler's Wells conductor John Lans bury. The couple were mar- ried in Los ... 87 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.121)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.121)

  2. IN MY SHOES PART 2 Concluding the autobiography of ballerin[?] Elaine Fifield
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 7 June 1967 p 37 Literature Illustrated
    ... IN MY SHOES PART 2 ELAINE FIFIELD with KEVIN PERKINS I 0 Concluding the autobiography of ballerina Elaine Fifield THE STORY SO FAR: Australian Elaine Fifield become a much-praised dancer at Covent ... PAGE 38 IN MY SHOES PART 2 ElAINE FIFIELD with KEVIN PERKINS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 Offering." It was ... 7931 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.057)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.057)

  3. No title [coming soon]
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Saturday 13 December 1969 p 3 Article Illustrated
    ... No Fifield, 7, rehearses with her mother* Elaine. Fifield, at the Canberra Theatre yesterday for her part in the ballet 'Dream*. ... 21 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.026)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.026)

  1. Website: Australia dancing
    www.australiadancing.org
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  2. Website: Dancelines.com.au
    dancelines.com.au
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.016)

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  3. Website: AIATSIS annual bibliography
    www.aiatsis.gov.au
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  1. Elaine Fifield.(Obituary)
    Meisner, Nadine
    The Independent
    [ Article : 1999 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.235)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.235)

  2. Dazzling dancer up to a pointe [Obituary: Elaine Fifield, ballerina]
    Australian
    [ Article : 1999 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.198)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.198)

  3. Elaine Fifield; Obituary.(Features)
    The Times (London, England)
    [ Article : 1999 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.086)

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  4. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW.(FT MONEY)
    Moore, Elaine
    The Financial Times
    [ Article : 2006-2007 ]
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