Having attended Dunhurst and Bedales in the 1930s and 40s, Sir Peter recalled that it was his improvised performance of the Nutcracker in the Bedales Dining Hall, when he first realised he wanted to become a dancer. However, dance was not a profession approved of by his father, so along with his school friend, Karin, they absconded. The plan was to busk, performing their dancing and artistic skills. However, following a freezing night in a field of cows in Somerset, they decided to turn themselves into the local Police Station and were soon deposited back at Bedales. Nothing however, was to prevent this strong calling to dance, and at 16, Peter managed to get work as an apprentice on tour with Kurt Jooss, the great German choreographer. This was the start of a glittering career which was to span over 70 years on the stage and included amongst many other achievements, the establishment of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. On his return this week, Sir Peter was reunited with the fellow Old Bedalian he had run away with all those years ago, Karin Antonini and together they enjoyed watching solo and group dance performances by students, prior to Sir Peter’s talk in the SLT.
