Ravenna Tucker, 1980

Ravenna Tucker is a Malaysian-born ballerina who spent her formative years in Hong Kong before moving to attend the Royal Ballet Upper School in London. In 1978 she won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal Competition and later the French Foundation Prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 1979 before joining the Royal Ballet that same year. In 1984 Ravenna was named "Dancer of the Year” by Dance and Dancers magazine. Shortly after, she was promoted to principal dancer, a title which followed her to the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Today Tucker continues her legacy as an Associate Professor of Dance.

In this photograph from 1980, she wears an Oliver Messel designed dress for the Homage to the Queen, dated 1953, and now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (S. 648-1981).