Donlon, Marguerite

Reference Code: IE 2135 N17

Title: The Marguerite Donlon Papers

Dates of Creation: 2001-2016

Level of Description: Fonds

Extent and Medium: 2 standard boxes, 14 recordings, and 12 outsize items (98 files)

CONTEXT

Name of Creator: Donlon, Marguerite (b. 1966)

Biographical History: Marguerite Donlon was born in 1966 in County Longford. Her early life was influenced by traditional Irish dance, and she did not begin her ballet studies until the age of 16. She received her training from Anica Dawson and Dorothy Stevens, and was a member of the English National Ballet under Peter Schaufuss. In 1990, she became a solo dancer and choreographer with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She has worked with many celebrated artists, including Natalia Makarova, Rudolf Nureyev and Sir Kenneth MacMillan.

In 2001, Donlon became director of ballet at the Saarländisches Staatstheater. Her resident company, Donlon Dance Company, is renowned for the highly technical and artistic level of its dancers. They have presented not only Donlon’s choreographies but those of prominent artists such as Jiří Kylián, Christian Spuck, Helena Waldmann and Rafael Bonachela. Donlon’s artistic and innovative style, which combines different art forms and humour, has been recognised through several awards and nominations.

Immediate Source of Acquisition: Donated by Marguerite Donlon to the National Dance Archive of Ireland on 31 May 2011. Additional material received on 5 December 2011 and 31 October 2016.

Scope and Content: Programmes, posters, postcards, press reviews and DVDs illustrating Donlon’s career as artistic director of the ballet at the Saarländische Staatstheater and her subsequent career in the world of dance.

Conditions Governing Access: Unrestricted access to all items.

Finding Aid: PDF link below.