Maude Lloyd(1908-2004)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
In 1927, in time for the birth of modern British Ballet, Maude joined
Ballet Rambert as a Principal Dancer. Her first recorded appearance
were in Purcell's "The Fairy Queen" and "Echo Dance" with Diana Gould
choreographed by Frederick Ashton. Performed in the first production of
"Facade" and in lost Ashton works such as "The Lady of Shallott, "The
Lord of Burleigh" and "Florentine Picture". Her diversity was expressed
in a series of ballets on sport called "Le Boxing" by Susan Salaman,
this contrasted with roles in "Les Sylphides, "Carnaval" and "Aurora's
Wedding". Maude is remembered as the foremost interpreter of Antony
Tudor's works, dancing in his first ballet "Cross-garter'd" to her
acclaimed performance as Caroline in "Jardin aux Lilas" 1936 (now
performed as "Lilac Garden" in the Paris repertoire). Tudor danced with
her in his "Dark Elegies" 1937 (premiering at the Duchess Theatre in
the Strand) and again in 1938 for his "Gala Performance" partnering her
role as the Italian Ballerina and the role of Chatelaine in Andrée
Howards's superb "La Fete Etrange". Although a relatively short career
Maude secures not only a significant place in dance history but in
television history with her performance in "Pasquinade", the first BBC
Revue Show in 1937. Another historical note is both Maude and great
friend Margot Fonteyn took ballet class in Paris from the legendary
Mathilde Kschessinska (HSH Princess Romanovsky-Krassinsky). When Antony
Tudor left for New York, Peggy van Praagh and Maude became joint
directors of his London Ballet he had set up with Agnes de Mille. After
leaving the Stage, together with husband Nigel Gosling, Arts Critic, an
important contribution was made as authors and critics under the
pseudonymn "Alexander Bland". Amongst the ballet and dance titles, two
others of great historical importance are "Leningrad" and "Nadar".
There home became a "Salon to the Arts", and provided the first home in
England to their devoted, lifelong friend Rudolf Nureyev. Lionel
Bradley has described Maude as having "a noble serenity and a deep
expressiveness allied to sparkling gifts of comedy". A lady in every
sense she remained active and entertained until peacefully passing away
at her Kensington home on November 27th 2004, surrounded by her family
and son Nicholas. One of her last vistors was Wallace Potts, her
devoted companion and partner of their beloved Rudolf Nureyev.