Ashton, Frederick (1951/1992) ‘Some Notes on Choreography’, in Sorell, Walter, ed. The Dance Has Many Faces, Chicago: Capella Books, 31-34
(1954) Marie Rambert: ‘A Tribute from Frederick Ashton’, The Dancing Times, no. 412, January, 151
(1958) ‘The Subject Matter of Ballet: A Symposium’, in Haskell, Arnold, ed. The Ballet Annual 1959, London: Adam and Charles Black, 38-39 (1960)
‘My Conception of La Fille mal gardée’ in Ivor Guest, ed. Famous Ballets 1 La Fille mal gardée, London: Dancing Times ltd.
in Crisp, Clement in Cohen (1974) ‘Frederick Ashton: A Conversation’, in Cohen, Selma Jeanne, ed. Dance as a Theatre Art, London: Dance Books, 169-173
(1976) ‘From Sir Frederick Ashton’, in Crisp, Clement, Anya Sainsbury and Peter Williams, eds. Ballet Rambert: 50 Years and On, London: Scolar Press, 34
Barnes, Clive (1961) Frederick Ashton and his Ballets, in Dance Perspectives, no.1, New York, Winter
Morris, Geraldine (2006) ‘Ashton and MacMillan in Fairyland: Contrasting Styles In Le Baiser de la Fée’, Dance Chronicle, 29, no.2, 133-160
Morris, Geraldine (2008) ‘Visionary Dances: Ashton’s Ballets of the Second World War’, Dance Research, 26, no.2, 168-188
Seymour, Lynn (2002) ‘The Isadora Dances of Sir Fred’, Dancing Times, 93, no. 1106, October, 50, 51 and 53
Somes, Michael (1961) ‘Working with Frederick Ashton’, in Haskell, Arnold, ed. The Ballet Annual, London: Adam and Charles Black, 50-54
Volkova, Vera (1961) ‘Frederick Ashton in Denmark’, in Haskell, Arnold and Mary Clarke, eds. The Ballet Annual, no. 15, London: Adam and Charles Black, 56 and 59
Ashton correspondence and contracts regarding American Ballet Theatre, 1936-1937. In: American Ballet Theatre records, NYPL.
Ashton correspondence 1938-1950 regarding Devil’s Holiday. Sergei Denham’s Documents regarding Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo, folder 1393, NYPL.
Ashton correspondence with Ruth Page and Thomas H. Fisher, 1951-53. (9 items) Ruth Page Collection, NYPL.
Ashton and Maria Bekefi. Includes signed letters from Ashton (to Bekefi), no date.
Ashton and Lincoln Kirstein. Letters and notes by Frederick Ashton. New York Public Library Catalogue description: ‘Includes an autograph letter, signed, regarding future plans, to choreograph Don Juan and Symphonic Variations. Also includes notes on Ashton’s Les Illuminations, annotated by Ashton (in pencil) and Lincoln Kirstein (in ink).’ Lincoln Kirstein Papers, 1914-1991.
Ashton and Alex Martin. Includes a note from Ashton (to Martin), no date.
Ashton, Frederick (1969) ‘Critical Comments on Isadora Duncan’ [1 audio cassette, 5 min] Archival recording, dated 8 May 1969. NYPL inscription: ‘Ashton discusses his impressions of Isadora Duncan and her audience.’ Preservation funded by the National Initiative to Preserve American Dance.
Gruen, John (1976) ‘Interview with Sir Frederick Ashton and Anthony Dowell.’ [1 audio cassette, 55 min.]
Horosko, Marian (1968) Interviews with Margot Fonteyn, Frederick Ashton, Antoinette Sibley, and David Wood. [1 audio casette, 23 min.] Archival recording of interview used for the series World of Dance, of radio station WNYC (New York City).
McDonagh, Don (1970) ‘Interview with Sir Frederick Ashton’ [1 digital sound disc, 65 min] Archival interview, 29 May, 1970: research for his article ‘Au revoir?’, published in Ballet Review, 3 (4): 14-19.
Raher, David (1974) ‘Interview with Frederick Ashton.’ [1 sound cassette, 90 min] Frederick Asthton recorded in July, 1974. Oral history archive: Gift of David Raher.
Terry, Walter (1953) ‘Interview with Frederick Ashton’ [1 audio casette, 28 min.] Recorded for the first program in the 1953-1954 season of Walter Terry’s series, Dance Laboratory, 18 Oct. 1953, YM-YWHA (New York City).
Vaughan, David (1973) ‘Series of interviews on Frederick Ashton in preparation for book Frederick Ashton and His Ballets.’ [6 audio cassettes, 8:46] Cassettes 1-3: Frederick Ashton recorded July 3, Aug. 9 and 10, 1973 (5 hrs.). Other cassettes: Derek Jarman (Aug. 1973, 40 min.); Alicia Markova (Sep. 6, 1973, 53 min.); William Chappell (Sep. 12, 1973, 48 min.); Peggy Van Praagh (Sept. 20, 1973, 31 min.); John Lanchbery (Oct. 9, 1973, 15 min.); Margot Fonteyn (Dec. 8, 1973, 39 min.)
Kendall, Elizabeth (1979) Trailblazers of Modern Dance: Sound Recording, June 25, 1977 (relating to the television program Trailblazers of modern dance, which was telecast on the Dance in America WNET/13, New York, on Jan. 4, 1979). Includes a brief discussion of Isadora Duncan by Frederick Ashton. Director: Emile Ardolino. Producers: Merrill Brockway and Judy Kinberg. New York: WNET/13.
Interview with Edwin Denby [and] Conversation with Edwin Denby and Don McDonagh, Arlene Croce et.al. (1969) [5 audio discs] Includes discussion of Ashtons works: Enigma Variations and Monotones. (Gift of Don McDonagh, opened in Aug 2012)
TRANSCRIPT:
Doob, Penelope Reed (1978) ‘A conversation with Sir Frederick Ashton.’ York Dance Review, 7 (Spring): 16-25. (Published print version of the interview recorded in Toronto, November 1976. The conversation was broadcast on The Dance, CBC-FM network program, February 1977.)
"Frederick Ashton used to walk by me in the Upper School and pull the hair on the top of my head saying 'grow, Sleep, grow'. Clearly I did not match up to the text book requirements needed to be a member of a ballet company. So I was amazed when he chose me to catch him horizontally in my arms as suitor to his Ugly Sister in Cinderella. Later he created many roles for me. Part of Ashton's genius lay in his ability to focus firmly on each individual dancer, which helped produce The Royal Ballet's unique style and a repertoire second to none."
"Sir Frederick Ashton has had a very strong influence shaping The Royal Ballet's unique style. I admire his sense of musicality, the quick footwork and in particular the expressive and stylised movement of the upper body. His work is very challenging but I personally find it hugely rewarding."
Videos
Ashton: Four of the Best A section with footage from each of : Symphonic Variations, Scènes de Ballet, A Month in the Country, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan.
Dancing in the Blitz – Dante Sonata Jenna Roberts and Iain Mackay from Birmingham Royal Ballet recreate Sir Frederick Ashton’s white pas de deux from his ballet Dante Sonata. Henry Danton comments on this clip as do Jane Pritchard and Julia Farron.
Insight: ABC of Ballet: The Fred Step Ursula Hageli and Romany Pajdak demonstrate the unique series of steps known as the ‘Fred step’ which Frederick Ashton included, or at least a section of them, in every ballet (the clip was filmed in 2011).
Frederick Ashton: A Genius of the Dance Filmed profile of Ashton with contributions from: Christopher Carr, Steven McRae, Kevin O’Hare, Margot Fonteyn and Ashton himself talking about Pavlova, Margot Fonteyn, how he rehearsed and the stress he felt. Also footage of him and Margot Fonteyn doing the Fred Step.
Fred Steps Various extracts of the Fred Step being performed including Ashton in Cinderella, Ashton with Margot Fonteyn and an extract from A Month in the Country.
ROH YOUTUBE CLIPS RELATING TO SIR FREDERICK ASHTON – Compiled by Jill McLoughlin
La Fille mal gardée: Frederick Ashton’s sunny ballet duration 12.05 Steven McRae and Roberta Marquez introduce ‘La Fille mal gardée’. Together with Philip Mosley, Lesley Collier and Monica Mason they talk about the ballet’s history, the country dance elements within it, the ribbon dance and the clog dance. This clip also includes excerpts from a performance as well as rehearsal footage of Steven and Roberta being coached by Lesley Collier in the ribbon dance and Philip Mosley, Kristin McNally, Sian Murphy, Emma McGuire and Melissa Hamilton practising the Widow Simone’s famous clog dance.
La Fille mal gardée: Dancers in rehearsal duration 5.52 Sir Frederick Ashton’s choreography calls for a high level of virtuosity from its principals. Christopher Carr rehearses Ludovic Ondiviela for the role of Alain. Christopher Carr talks about the difficulty of the steps and how they reflect the character of Alain. Lesley Collier rehearses Stephen McRae and Roberta Marquez for the roles of Colas and Lise.
Why Royal Ballet dancers love La Fille mal gardée duration 5.58 Steven McRae, Philip Mosley, Christopher Carr, Meaghan Grace Hinkis and Natalia Osipova introduce Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘La Fille mal gardée’ and talk about what they love about the ballet. Includes rehearsal footage of the chickens and the cockerel and Natalia Osipova rehearsing with Philip Mosley and Steven McRae.
Lesley Collier and Darcey Bussell in conversation duration 6.07 Darcey Bussell and Lesley Collier on the feel-good factor of ‘La Fille mal gardée’, the mastery of Sir Frederick Ashton and the challenges of the choreography. Extract of Natalia Osipova rehearsing the role of Lise.
Ballet Evolved – Alicia Markova 1910-2004 duration 2.48 Romany Pajdak performs an extract of Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Foyer de Danse’ – a work created on Alicia Markova in 1934. Presented by Ursula Hageli with Paul Stobart at the piano.
Ondine duration 3.16 Tamara Rojo talks about what ‘Ondine’ means to her. Clement Crisp explains how the music by Hans Werner Henze was written and how water is represented in the ballet. Extract of Margot Fonteyn dancing the title role.
An Introduction to Rhapsody duration 4.18 Steven McRae and Natalia Osipova in rehearsal with Lesley Collier. Interviews with Lesley Collier, Barry Wordsworth, Steven McRae and Natalia Osipova.
The Dream rehearsal duration 6.39 Christopher Carr rehearses Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘The Dream’ with Marcelino Sambé and Luca Acri, accompanied by Kate Shipway on the piano.
Christopher Carr on working with Frederick Ashton duration 3.59 Christopher Carr talks about his working relationship with Sir Frederick Ashton. Extracts from ‘The Awakening’ with Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope, and ‘La Valse’.
Monotones II rehearsal duration 3.33 Edward Watson, Marianela Nuñez and Federico Bonelli rehearse Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Monotones II’ with Anthony Dowell and Lynn Wallis.
The Two Pigeons in rehearsal – for World Ballet Day duration 20.01 Christopher Carr rehearses a pas de deux from Sir Frederick Ashton’s romantic ballet ‘The Two Pigeons’ with Yuhui Choe and Alexander Campbell, accompanied by Kate Shipway on the piano.
An Introduction to The Two Pigeons duration 6.17 Extracts from a performance of ‘The Two Pigeons’. Interviews with Christopher Carr, Lauren Cuthbertson, Vadim Muntagirov and Barry Wordsworth.
Exploring the choreography of The Two Pigeons duration 3.20 Sir Frederick Ashton created ‘The Two Pigeons’ for The Royal Ballet Touring Company in 1961. Lesley Collier, Darcey Bussell and Lauren Cuthbertson discuss the character of the Young Girl and how some of her steps imitate the movement of a pigeon.
Tamara Rojo on Marguerite and Armand duration 1.43 Tamara Rojo said farewell to The Royal Ballet with a performance of Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Marguerite and Armand’ alongside Sergei Polunin. She rehearses for the role as well as speaking about her final performance.
Tales of Beatrix Potter duration 2.35 Philip Mosley explains the characters within the ballet and the challenges that the large animal costumes present. Illustrated with stills by Bill Cooper.
