Ninette de Valois

British founder of the Royal Ballet

Dame Ninette de Valois OM CH DBE (born Edris Stannus; 6 June 1898 – 8 March 2001) was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director of classical ballet.

Most notably, she danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, later establishing the Royal Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century and one of the leading ballet companies in the world.

She also established the Royal Ballet School and the touring company which became the Birmingham Royal Ballet.She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ballet and as the "godmother" of English and Irish ballet.