Lady Anya Sainsbury CBE has been closely associated with Rambert School for more than four decades; as a ballet coach for several years, champion of many fundraising drives and most recently as Patron.
Together with her late husband John, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG, they have worked tirelessly to support and protect the School and their love and passion are deeply entrenched in our past, present and future.
Anya was born in Manchester and started ballet training aged 7 in Berkeley, California with Dorothy Pring and Theodore Kosloff. In 1947 she returned to England with her family and joined Sadler’s Wells Ballet School (now The Royal Ballet School). She joined The Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1951 (which became The Royal Ballet in 1956) as Anya Linden, where she progressed from the Corps de Ballet and Soloist, to Principal, and danced many Principal roles including Coppélia, Giselle, Cinderella, Sylvia, The Firebird, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. During her career with the Company, she worked with many of the greatest choreographers including Frederick Ashton, John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan and the wonderful Ballet Master, Harijs Plucis.
Anya is also the vision behind the highly acclaimed Linbury Prize, which she set up 40 years ago which has helped discover, amplify and celebrate some of the country’s very talented young stage designers.
The creation and development of The Linbury Trust in 1973 helped and contributed to the UK’s arts and it’s cultural sector, as well as supporting the natural environment and social welfare. Their 50 years of providing vital financial support to hundreds of charities has helped change the course of many lives and organisations.
Through Lord & Lady Sainsbury (John and Anya), the Linbury Trust, together with other generous charities and individuals, has enjoyed supporting many of Rambert School’s students over the years, as well as the space in which they train, and continues to do so today.
Anya says “I feel very proud to be Patron of this extraordinary school. I want to express how much I admire the constant ability to produce not only wonderful dancers, but creative choreographers and even directors of new companies.”