Background
Park, Merle Florence was born on October 8, 1937 in Salisbury, Rhodesia. Daughter of Philisophy J. Park.
Park, Merle Florence was born on October 8, 1937 in Salisbury, Rhodesia. Daughter of Philisophy J. Park.
Graduate, Elmhurst Ballet School. Graduate, Royal Ballet School.
Joined Royal Ballet 1954. First solo role 1955. Opened own ballet school 1977.
Director Royal Ballet School September since 1983. Principal Royal Ballet. Repertoire includes Facade, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mai Gardee, Giselle, Les Sylphides, The Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Triad, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Cinderella, Shadow Play, Anastasia, Pineapple Poll, Swan Lake, The Firebird, Walk to the Paradise Garden, Dances at a Gathering, Shadow, Don Quixote, Deux Pigeons, Serenade, Scene de Ballet, Wedding Bouquet, Les Rendezvous, Mirror Walkers, Symphonic Variations, Daphnis and Chloe, Serenade, In the Night, Laurentia, Mamzelle Angot, Manon, Apollo, Flower Festival, Le Corsaire, The Moor’s Pavane, Aureole, Elite Syncopations, Lulu, The Taming of the Shrew, Mayerling, Birthday Offering, La Fin du Jour.
Adieu, Isadora, etc. Adelaine Genee.
Dancer repertoire includes: Facade, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, Giselle, Les Sylphides, The Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Triad, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Cinderella, Shadow Play, Anastasia, Swan Lake, The Firebird, Walk to the Paradise Garden, Dances at a Gathering, Shadow, Don Quixote, Deux Pigeons, Serenade, Scene de Ballet, Wedding Bouquet, Les Rendevous, Mirror Walkers, Symphonic Variations, Daphnis and Chloe, Serenade, In the Night, Laurentia, Mamzelle Angot, Manon, Apolo, Flower Festival, Le Corsaire, The Moor's Pavane, Aureole, Elite Syncopations, Lulu, The Taming of the Shrew, Mayerling, Birthday Offering, La Fin du Jour, Adieu, Isadora, Raymonda, others.
Married 1st James Monahan, C.B.E. in 1965 (divorced in 1970. Married 2nd Sidney Bloch in 1971.