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Robert Helpmann

Sir Robert Murray Helpmann (né Helpman; 9 April 1909 – 28 September 1986) was an Australian ballet dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. After early work in Australia, he moved to Britain in 1932, where he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet (now The Royal Ballet) under its creator, Ninette de Valois. He became one of the company's leading men, partnering Alicia Markova and later Margot Fonteyn. When Frederick Ashton, the company's chief choreographer, was called up for military service in the Second World War, Helpmann took over from him while continuing as a principal dancer. From the outset of his career, Helpmann was an actor as well as a dancer, and in the 1940s he turned increasingly to acting in plays, at the Old Vic and in the West End. Most of his roles were in Shakespeare plays, but he also appeared in works by Shaw, Coward, Sartre and others. As a director, his range was wide, from Shakespeare to opera, musicals and pantomime. In 1965, Helpmann became co-director of the Australian Ballet, for whom he created several new ballets. He became sole director in 1975, but disagreements with the company's board led to his dismissal a year later. He directed for Australian Opera and acted in stage plays into the 1980s.…

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Article summary

Sir Robert Murray Helpmann (né Helpman; 9 April 1909 – 28 September 1986) was an Australian ballet dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. After early work in Australia, he moved to Britain in 1932, where he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet (now The Royal Ballet) under its creator, Ninette de Valois. He became one of the company's leading men, partnering Alicia Markova and later Margot Fonteyn. When Frederick Ashton, the company's chief choreographer, was called up for military service in the Second World War, Helpmann took over from him while continuing as a principal dancer. From the outset of his career, Helpmann was an actor as well as a dancer, and in the 1940s he turned increasingly to acting in plays, at the Old Vic and in the West End. Most of his roles were in Shakespeare plays, but he also appeared in works by Shaw, Coward, Sartre and others. As a director, his range was wide, from Shakespeare to opera, musicals and pantomime. In 1965, Helpmann became co-director of the Australian Ballet, for whom he created several new ballets. He became sole director in 1975, but disagreements with the company's board led to his dismissal a year later. He directed for Australian Opera and acted in stage plays into the 1980s.…

Key claims

  1. date of birth: 1881 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of death: 1986 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. date of establishment: 2001 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  4. date of formation: 1974 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of birth is "1881". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of death is "1986". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the date of establishment is "2001". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. The record states that the date of formation is "1974". What evidence would count against this claim?
  6. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  7. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377853176

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.