Alicia Markova
/əˌliːsiə mɑːˈkəʊvə/
/əˌliːsiə mɑːrˈkəʊvə/
- (1910-2004) an English ballet dancer. She was trained by Anna Pavlova, danced with Sergei Diaghilev's company (1925-9) and took leading parts in the first British productions of many classical ballets. After 1935 she worked mainly with Anton Dolin, and was famous for her performance of Giselle. She retired from dancing in 1962 and became a ballet director for the Royal Ballet and other companies. She was made a dame in 1963.