David Wall became the Royal Ballet's youngest principal dancer at 20—what made him stand out even as a student?
David Wall was a celebrated principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, remembered as one of the company's most outstanding talents. This episode of Voices of British Ballet features former dancer Patricia Linton, who attended the Royal Ballet School with Wall. Linton shares personal memories and professional insights into Wall's early promise and formidable career.
Wall joined the Royal Ballet's touring company in 1963 immediately after graduating from the Royal Ballet School. He achieved principal dancer status in the main company by the age of 20, making him the youngest to hold that position. Patricia Linton recalls that even during their school days in the late 1950s, Wall's exceptional potential was evident to everyone. She states it was no surprise he became one of the greatest male dancers of his generation. Linton describes him as a "real life force on stage" who possessed impeccable courtly manners. She emphasizes his unique ability to elevate the performance of everyone dancing around him.
One vivid memory from their shared school years involves their activities on Saturday evenings when they had no preparatory work. Without television, internet, or mobile phones, the students entertained themselves by listening to Radio Luxembourg, a likely pirate station at the time. Their preferred alternative was to dance together, completely unsupervised, in one of the school's two studios, called the Salon or the Pavlova studio. Linton reveals their favourite routine was practicing the white act Pas de Deux from *Swan Lake*. They learned this complex duet entirely from Cyril Beaumont's book, *A Ballet Called Swan Lake*, memorizing it by heart.
The episode offers a warm, firsthand account of a ballet star's formative years and charismatic presence. The tone is nostalgic and conversational, blending personal anecdote with professional admiration. Listeners interested in ballet history, particularly the mid-20th century Royal Ballet, will find this intimate portrait compelling. Those seeking technical dance analysis or a comprehensive biography might find the episode's scope too narrow and personal.
