Pamela May

Pamela May OBE (30 May 1917 – 6 June 2005) was a Trinidad-born British dancer and teacher of classical ballet. Most noted as one of the earliest members of The Royal Ballet, she was regarded as a versatile dancer; dancing all the established 19th-century classical repertoire, and creating roles in new ballets by Ninette de Valois and Frederick Ashton. After retiring from professional ballet, she became a teacher at the Royal Ballet School, and also served as vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Biography Pamela May was born Doris May, in the city of San Fernando, Trinidad, on 30 May 1917. Les Patineurs - Girl in Red - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton A Wedding Bouquet - Violet - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton Horoscope - The Moon - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton Dante Sonata - Untitled Role - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton The Wanderer - Untitled Pas de Deux - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton The Prospect Before Us - Mlle Théodore - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois Orpheus and Eurydice - Eurydice - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois Symphonic Variations - Untitled Role - Choreographed by: Frederick Ashton Don Quixote - Golden Age Pas de Deux - Choreographed by: Ninette de Valois Bonne-Bouche - The Mother - Choreographed by: John Cranko

Awards Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award - Awarded by the Royal Academy of Dance, 1976 Officer of the Order of the British Empire - Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, 1977

Personal life May married twice. Her first husband was Painton Cowan who she met at Cambridge. Painton was killed in action three weeks after their son was born.

Her second marriage was to Charles Gordon, whom she met whilst visiting Cambridge on tour with the Royal Ballet. Charles died on 6 June 2005 in Birmingham and they had a daughter.