Arnold L. Haskell: Ballet

"Arnold Haskell, Director of the Sadler's Wells School, says he was 'born interested' in the ballet. The great love for the dance which has made him the foremost critic in the world to-day started when as a small boy he used to save his pocket-money towards seeing performances. Since then he has seen ballets danced throughout the world. Haskell was born in London and educated at Westminster and Cambridge. He learnt dancing in order to 'know what he was talking about'. He has played a prominent part in establishing British Ballet; and is responsible for the introduction of a new word into the English language - Balletomania, an apt description of 'ballet fever'. He was cofounder of the Camargo Society in 1930, and founder of the Sadler's Wells Ballet Benevolent Fund in 1936. He is a member of the Executive of the Royal Academy of Dancing. He worked for five years on the editorial staff of a London publishing firm; has lectured all over the world; was critic for The Daily Telegraph; is the author of numerous books on ballet and also of The Sculptor Speaks, which describes the work of Epstein, and several books on Australia, including Waltzing Matilda. He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1950, and awarded the C.B.E. in the Birthday Honours List of 1954."