Antoinette Sibley

Dame Antoinette Sibley (born 27 February 1939) is a British prima ballerina. She joined the Royal Ballet from the Royal Ballet School in 1956 and became a soloist in 1960. She was celebrated for her partnership with Anthony Dowell. After her retirement from dancing in 1989 she became President of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1991, and guest coach at the Royal Ballet and Governor, Royal Ballet Board (2000).

Early years Sibley was born in the London suburb of Bromley, the daughter of Edward G Sibley and his wife Winfred, née Smith. She was educated at the Arts Educational Schools and the Royal Ballet School. Her first appearance on the stage was as a swan in Swan Lake in January 1956, when still a student. Joan Lawson in The Dancing Times wrote of Sibley's dancing, "lyrical qualities and beautifully flowing line". Karsavina said to Sibley, "To get the full benefit from battements frappés we must train our muscles to give a quick reaction. This means that the dégagé must be sharp and in the nature of a 'hit out'."

Major career One of Sibley's first important roles was in Jabez and the Devil (1961), choreographed by Alfred Rodrigues, who was among the earliest to recognize her talents. She danced her first Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty on 27 December 1961, partnered by John Gilpin. The performance was praised: "Her Aurora, already enchanting, promises to be for her generation what Fonteyn's had been to mine."

Retirement Sibley announced her retirement in 1979, In retirement she became President of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1991, and guest coach at the Royal Ballet (1991) and Governor, Royal Ballet Board (2000).

Personal life From 1964 to 1973 Sibley was married to the dancer Michael Somes. After their divorce, in 1974 she married London-based banker, (Richard) Panton Corbett, of a landed gentry family of Longnor, Shropshire, who changed their name from Plymley in 1804 to inherit the estate from their relatives, the Corbet baronets. They have a son and a daughter.