• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: IMP0278

Jones, Marilyn Fay

(1940 – )
  • Nationality Australian
  • Born 17 February, 1940, Newcastle New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Dancer, Teacher

Summary

Marilyn Jones has been described as ‘the greatest classical dancer Australia has produced’. She studied at the London Royal Ballet School and danced with the Royal Ballet from 1957-1958 before joining the Australian Ballet on its formation in 1962. In 1963 she married fellow principal dancer Garth Welch and they had two sons, Stanton and Damien, who also became dancers. She danced with the Australian Ballet until 1978, when she took up the position of artistic director of the Company from 1979 until 1982. In 1991 she founded the Australian Institute of Classical Dance and became its artistic director. Other appointments have included director of the National Theatre Youth Ballet from 1996-1998 and director of the National Theatre Ballet School, Melbourne, from 1995-1998. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1972 for her services to Australian ballet.

Published resources

  • Book
    • Marilyn Jones, a brilliance all of her own, Laughlin, Patricia Jean, 1978
    • From gaolbird to lyrebird: a life in Australian ballet., Kitcher, Barry, 2001
  • Site Exhibition
  • Edited Book
    • Who's Who in Australia 2001, Herd, Margaret, 2000
  • Resource

Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore Collection
    • Marilyn Jones interviewed by Michelle Potter in the Esso Performing Arts collection [sound recording]
  • National Library of Australia, Pictures Collection
    • [Portrait of Marilyn Jones, Kim Walker and Janet Vernon] [picture] / Don McMurdo
    • Australian Ballet performance of Coppelia starring Robert Pomie and Marilyn Jones, 1963 [picture] / Walter Stringer
  • National Library of Australia
    • Great Australian women of the 20th century [electronic resource]

Related entries


  • Related Concepts
    • Dance