Earlier this month, English National Ballet School had the privilege of joining in a special moment of ballet history: the unveiling of a blue plaque in honour of Dame Alicia Markova, one of the most influential figures in British ballet and a founding member of what would become English National Ballet.

The blue plaque now sits above the doorway at her former home in London—a quiet street now marked forever by the legacy of a woman who helped shape the future of classical ballet in the UK. Dame Alicia’s contributions as a dancer, choreographer, and director were not only pioneering in their time, but instrumental in creating space for ballet to flourish across the country.

ENBS students were invited to be part of the official unveiling, honouring Markova’s enduring impact. It was a moving reminder of the direct line from her visionary work to the training and artistry that takes place at the School today. Her belief in ballet as an art form for everyone, not just the elite, continues to shape our mission.

Adding a personal and poetic layer to the moment, we discovered that a current relative of the family now residing at Markova’s former home—Susan Maynell—once danced as a child with London Festival Ballet in the 1958-1959 Christmas Season, the company that Markova helped establish and which would later become English National Ballet. A living connection between generations of dancers, united by heritage, discipline, and shared inspiration.

The homeowners shared that when they purchased the house, they had no idea of its remarkable connection to Dame Alicia Markova. Learning about its history came as a wonderful surprise and added a deeply meaningful layer to their experience of living there. On the day of the unveiling, neighbours and passersby paused to watch the event unfold. The street briefly became a gathering place for shared history, curiosity, and community, as those present took in the significance of the tribute.

ENBS Men’s Tutor David Yow said, “It was both an honour and a privilege to see three of our second-year students represent English National Ballet School at the unveiling of the English Heritage blue plaque commemorating Dame Alicia Markova in Muswell Hill. The day held an unexpected delight when we discovered that the mother of one of the new homeowners had performed as a child with London Festival Ballet in David Lichine’s Nutcracker in 1958—astonishingly, she still had the programme and a pristine newspaper review with her name in it. Clearly, a treasured keepsake that she generously shared with us. It felt as though fate was gently weaving together threads of the past and present to celebrate one of the founding reasons English National Ballet exists today. That the students just happened to be wearing costumes from Graduation Ball for the photoshoot, another Lichine production which our school is performing this summer at the Bloomsbury Theatre, made the moment all the more poignant.”

To stand on the steps of her home, surrounded by students of the very institution she helped bring into being, was a striking tribute to the power of legacy and the importance of memory.

Dame Alicia Markova once said, “There is a bit of ballet in everything.” And for us at ENBS, her influence remains present in every plié, every performance, and every dancer we help shape.