John Hart (dancer)

Francis John Hart CBE (4 July 1921 – 8 February 2015), was an English ballet dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Ballet West from 1986 to 1997.

Francis John Hart was born in London on 4 July 1921, He trained at the Royal Academy of Dancing with Judith Espinosa. the son of Frank L. Hart and Ivy Hart. In 1938, he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet, dancing lead roles by the age of 21.

He created a role in Ninette de Valois' 1940 The Prospect Before Us, then served in the war from 1942–46, and returned as a princiapl dancer, creating roles in Frederick Ashton's Sylvia (1952) and Homage to the Queen (1953). In 1955, Hart was appointed ballet master, and was assistant director of the Royal Ballet from 1962–70.

His last major position was as artistic director of Salt Lake City’s Ballet West from 1986 to 1997. He died in Salt Lake City on 8 February 2015.

Hart received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1970, and was made a Commander of Order of the British Empire in 1971.

Hart enjoyed fine art, collected stamps, and had a "fondness for epicurean delights".

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