Alicia Markova (1910–2004)

Alicia Markova was born in London in 1910. She studied ballet with a retired member of the Ballets Russe, where Diaghilev discovered her at 13, and changed her name to Markova. She performed with the Ballets Russe until 1929, where she helped found the Royal Ballet. Later, she danced in her own company, the Markova-Dolin Ballet, as well as the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. During WWII, she reformed the Ballets Russe in the U.S. and also danced in several films. She retired from professional dancing in 1963,when she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire but continued to teach. She also served as a Governor of the Royal ballet, as well as Vice-President of its Academy. She died of complications from a stroke at the age of 94.