David Gayle MBE
Former Royal Ballet dancer and teacher, David
Gayle, founded the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars at
Ilkley College in 1975.
Former Royal Ballet dancer and teacher, David
Gayle, founded the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars at
Ilkley College in 1975.
“I saw Dame Alicia Markova dance at St George’s
Hall in Bradford when I was 12. I knew from early
on that I wanted to be a dancer though I didn’t
know much hard work would be involved! But I
have had tried to ease the path of others coming
through.”
David was the first boy to be taken on to the
Teacher Training course at the Royal Ballet School.
“I first went into Ilkley College in 1974, doing a
few day non residential courses. I had been using
another local hall for classes but it was being
painted, so Rod Sawyer suggested I used a room
at the College instead. Then it was suggested
that I could use the rest of the facilities over the
summer to hold residential courses and so the
potential just opened up. I used all my contacts
from the world of ballet and got them to give
masterclasses and exhibitions. We had incredible
speakers and lecturers, the best international
teachers and dancers, and they believed in what I
was doing. I remember the headlines ‘Ilkley gets
the ballet greats’ and we did.”
The first residential summer ballet course was
officially opened at Ilkley College on 4th August
1975 by Dame Ninette de Valois OM, CH, DBE,
founder of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet
School. The first masterclass was then taught by
Dame Alicia Markova DBE, DMus.
“Our reputation spread and students came from
all over the world. They benefited enormously. So
many of the students went on to be professional
dancers; in ballet companies, in musicals and in
contemporary dance.”
David had brought the cream of ballet to Ilkley,
originally seeking to encourage those unable to
attend classes and auditions in the capital. But
following the incredible success of the Yorkshire
Ballet Seminars, prima ballerina Merle Park invited
David to set up similar seminars in London as the
Royal Ballet Summer School in 1987.
“I am so proud of what the YBS achieved,
although my big regret was that we left Ilkley
when the College closed in 1999. The YBS are
still going strong, although I retired 4 years ago.
Marguerite Porter has taken it on and is doing a
great job.”
Photograph supplied by David Gayle MBE