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Farewell to Markova House
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English National Ballet (then London Festival Ballet) acquired the lease on Markova House in 1976. Before moving there, we were a truly nomadic company, first having offices at the Royal Festival Hall (then moving to Marylebone), with workshops for the Wardrobe department and rehearsal spaces scattered around London. Rehearsals often took place in the building now housing the Donmar Warehouse.
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Markova House was originally named Festival Ballet House in 1977 but later renamed in honour of our founding ballerina and later patron Dame Alicia Markova.
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The building was built as part of Queen Alexandra’s House, and it originally served as a hostel for 130 female students at the Royal College of Music. It is still possible to see the original fireplaces in a few of the current offices.
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Dancers of English National Ballet have just three studios at Markova House; the largest, called the Donald Barclay Studio is where Rudolf Nureyev created his version of Romeo & Juliet for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
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The staff of English National Ballet, including Administration, Artistic, Costume, Development, Engagement, Enterprises, Facilities, Finance, Marketing & Communications, Medical, Music, Operations, and Technical are all housed here in increasingly cramped quarters.
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Over the years, improvements were made to accommodate our growing company and its needs: a kitchen area, a very small gym, a small physiotherapy suite, staff offices scattered across 5 floors.
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English National Ballet School started at Markova House. This specialist training centre for young ballet dancers was founded in 1988. The School eventually moved to a separate home in South West London. We’re very excited that we will be housed under one roof once again.
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Thanks to this wonderful building for all we’ve been able to create and achieve here these past 43 years. We’ll miss Markova House but are very much looking forward to making new history at London City Island.
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You can support us and our work by making a donation towards the essential finishing touches we need in the new building. Join in and help us make this extraordinary new building a creative hub for current and future generations.
More images of Markova House below:
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