Ashton, Frederick William Mallandaine (1904–1988)

English choreographer and dancer. He was director of the Royal Ballet, London 1963–70. He studied with Marie Rambert before joining the Sadler's Wells (now Royal) Ballet in 1935 as chief choreographer. His choreography is marked by a soft, pliant, classical lyricism. His many works and long association with Margot Fonteyn, for whom he created her most famous roles, contributed to the worldwide reputation of British ballet and to the popularity of ballet in the mid-20th century. He was knighted in 1962.