Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE (6 June 1898 8 March 2001) was an Irish dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet. She danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev''s Ballets Russes, later settling in England. She is most noted for establishing The Royal Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century and one of the leading ballet companies in the world today. She also established the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Royal Ballet School. As one of the creators of modern British ballet, she is widely regarded as one of the most influential personalities in ballet history.