About Dame Adeline Genée
Born in Denmark and trained from an early age by her uncle, Alexander Genée. In 1897 she began a six-week contract at London’s Empire Theatre with such success that she stayed for 10 years.
Founding President of the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain (which would later become the Royal Academy of Dance) – Adeline Genée became the first-ever President of the RAD, a position she held until her retirement in 1954.
She played a major part in the development of the organisation, including not only the achievement of its Royal Chartership in 1935 but furthering the Academy’s reputation across the globe through numerous dancing tours to America, Australia and New Zealand.
Find out more below, and also read Living Doll in the latest issue of Dance Gazette.
How it all began
Genée’s influence on the Academy
"She was a star ballerina at the Empire Theatre in London for 10 years from 1897."Genée's ballet shoes
"And you'd notice on her dress the oak leaves that would identify her character because she was a Dryad..."Founders' Costumes