VALE: Lucette Aldous AC (1938-2021)

One of Australia’s best known and most admired ballerinas, Lucette Aldous, has died in Perth at the age of 82.

New Zealand-born, Lucette was an international star who danced with a number of companies, including The Royal Ballet, before joining The Australian Ballet in 1970. She brought all her vivacity and ebullience to the role of Kitri opposite Rudolf Nureyev’s Basilio in his film of Don Quixote, as well as dancing many other leading roles with our company and coaching generations of dancers.

After retiring from full-time performing in the mid-1970s Aldous taught at the Australian Ballet School and then in 1982 joined the faculty of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Edith Cowan University, Perth. After retiring from full-time work at WAAPA, Aldous continued to live in Perth and to coach, adjudicate and teach.

In 1999 Aldous received an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University while at the Australian Dance Awards she received the award for Services to Dance in 2001 and Lifetime Achievement in 2009. In the Australia Day Honours List of 2018 she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Thank you for your contribution to the Western Australian arts Lucette, our thoughts are with your family and the ballet community at this difficult time.

 

 

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