Franklin White papers

1941-2013

Franklin White (née Peter Franklin White 1923-2013), was born in Shoreham, Kent, England, to Franklin C. White, a Royal Academy artist and Olga (Hart) White, a violinist. White's extensive career over several decades included being a ballet dancer, mime, dance teacher, educator, and choreographer in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

At the age of nineteen, White joined the Ballet Rambert, following shortly, thereafter, to the Sadler's Wells Ballet (later to be known as The Royal Ballet). At The Royal Ballet, White rose to become the principle character dancer. One of the highlights of his career was to perform on the centenary of The Royal Opera House before Queen Elizabeth, in 1958.

In 1965, White left The Royal Ballet to take on new challenges as a dance teacher, choreographer, and educator. He went briefly to Vancouver, Canada to teach young students, followed by a permanent move to the United States.

In 1969, White received a professorship of theatre at the University of Illinois, and opened up an extension division at the National Academy of Dance, in Champaign, Illinois. He would leave the University and the Academy, in 1977, to become a free-lance artist with professional companies and academic and educational institutions.

From 1980 to 1981, White was an artist-in-residence at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. While there, White served as director, choreographer, and teacher for dance and stage techniques. He gave a performance in the role of Drosslemire in the Nutcracker (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 30, 1980). White continued to work at many institutions. He occasionally worked on productions with his son Michael, a scenic designer and artist.

Throughout his career, White danced along-side many prominent artists including Margot Fonteyn, Beryl Grey, and Rudolph Nureyev.

White died in Illinois, in 2013.