Born in Scotland Dunfermline on 12/11/1929. He studied at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School in London. He began his career as a dancer, founding member of the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, a new company formed by Ninette de Valois (1946) and continued at the Royal Opera House in London. Already a successful choreographer since 1953, however, he was established as a major choreographer in 1955 with Symphonic Dances [Danses Concertantes], set to the music of Stravinsky, when de Valois commissioned him a new ballet of his choice for her team, thusset to the music of Stravinsky. He had a life long collaboration with set designer Nicholas Georgiadis. He was director of the Ballet of Deutsche Oper Berlin (1966-69) and the Royal Ballet of London Opera (1970-1977). His choreographed works include The Rite of Spring, Romeo and Juliet , Anastasia , Manon , Mayerling, Isadora, Requiem, End Of The Day [La Fin du Jour], Valley of Shadows, Different Drummer , Wozzek, The Prince of the Pagodas. He resigned as director in 1977, keeping his position as principal choreographer to totally devote himself to his artistic work. He collaborated extensively with the Stuttgart Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet and in 1988 became Artistic Associate of the American Ballet Theatre. He was the recipient of the "Laurence Olivier" Award ( The Judas Tree, 1993), the Society of London Theatre Special Award (1993) and the Tony Award (Carousel, 1994). He died in London on 29/10/1992. For the Greek National Opera, he choreographed the ballet The Lonely (Acropol Theatre, 2006-07).