MacLeary, Donald

▪ Scottish dancer

born Aug. 22, 1937, Glasgow

      Scottish premier danseur noted for his strong finesse and natural romanticism.

      He was trained at the Royal Ballet School and joined the company in 1954. He was promoted in the next year to soloist, becoming, in 1959, the youngest premier danseur of the Royal Ballet. In partnership principally with Svetlana Beriosova, MacLeary danced classical leads, including those in Swan Lake, La Fille mal gardée, and Romeo and Juliet, and he created major roles in many modern ballets. In 1975 he became ballet master of the Royal Ballet.

* * *