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David Wall CBE (1946 – 2013)

David Wall was a renowned male ballet dancer, the youngest ever to be promoted to a Royal Ballet Principal dancer at the age of 20. He trained at the Royal Ballet School, where he met his future wife the ballerina Alfreda Thorogood and they both enjoyed their careers together in the The Royal Ballet Company. David was known for many roles including Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling and the Prince in Swan Lake. He partnered Dame Margot Fonteyn, and in 1977, he won the Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. David retired from The Royal Ballet in 1984 and was appointed a CBE. In 1985 he joined the Royal Academy of Dance as Director and General Secretary until 1991. He joined English National Ballet as Ballet Master in 1995.

Gielgud Academy was thrilled that David launched the school in 2011 with Dame Beryl Grey, Gillian Lynne and Alfreda Thorogood, and at his support at our annual shows until his untimely passing. GAPA awards a David Wall Boys Ballet Scholarship every year to a promising young male pupil in his honour.

Photo of David Wall with his wife Alfreda Thorogood