Margot Fonteyn, Michael Somes and Frederick Ashton in rehearsal for Ondine ©Roger Wood. ROH, 1958.

The Frederick Ashton Foundation was launched on Saturday 8 October 2011, with the principal aim of perpetuating the legacy and work of the distinguished English choreographer. The Frederick Ashton Foundation is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. It is be based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The Foundation was established to have a close association with the existing Ashton ballet copyright holders (the Ashton Trust) and, amongst its other activities, to work with them to develop the skills of those who will be registered to teach, coach and stage Ashton’s ballets in the future, thus ensuring the survival of the Ashton Legacy for generations to come.

The establishment of The Frederick Ashton Foundation was made possible by a generous donation from The Tomlinson Family Trust. Tony Dyson, Chairman of the Foundation, said: “We are hugely indebted to the generosity of Lindsay and Sarah Tomlinson, without whose support we would not have had the means to establish the Foundation. As committed supporters of The Royal Ballet and great lovers of the works of Frederick Ashton, they realise how important it is to ensure Ashton’s legacy is maintained, and we are very grateful to them. I am delighted too that they, together with ROH chief executive Tony Hall and vice-president of The Royal Ballet Lady Sarah Chatto, have agreed to become Founding Patrons of the Foundation.”

Dame Monica Mason DBE, Director of The Royal Ballet, welcomed the initiative, saying: “I am delighted that it has been possible to set up the Foundation. It is of paramount importance that, as Founder Choreographer of The Royal Ballet, Ashton’s choreographic legacy can be safeguarded for future generations and the rights holders of his works can be supported by the Foundation’s activities.”

Initial projects with which the Foundation was associated included:

• 2 November 2011 – Insight Evening at the ROH: a Degas at the Royal Academy event in conjunction with the RA, Royal Ballet ballet mistress Ursula Hageli will participate, and the evening will include a section of Ashton’s Foyer de danse (1932) reconstructed by Christopher Newton and Hageli and supported by The Frederick Ashton Foundation.
• 10 November 2011 – The Royal Ballet In Rehearsal (Enigma Variations, Clore Studio), supported by The Frederick Ashton Foundation.
• March 2012 – Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Two Pigeons: rehearsal to be filmed (Birmingham Hippodrome), supported by The Frederick Ashton Foundation.
• 11 April 2012 – The Royal Ballet In Rehearsal (La Fille mal gardée, venue tba), supported by The Frederick Ashton Foundation.

Additionally, Opus Arte released a DVD of Ashton’s work in November 2011 (Scènes de ballet, Divertissements, Les Patineurs).

October 2011