Maude Lloyd

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.