Ballet coach Parkinson dead at 71

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- American Ballet Theater coach Georgina Parkinson, a former star of the Royal Ballet in Britain, died at the age of 71 in New York, her son Tobias Round said.

The New York Times said Saturday that Parkinson gained fame for her performance in a 1964 Royal Ballet rendition of "Les Biches" and parlayed that fame to roles in "Swan Lake" and "Raymonda."

Parkinson, who also enjoyed roles in "Monotones I" an "Enigma Variations," first taught at the American Ballet Theater in New York in 1978.

After spending a year in London with her family, Parkinson returned to the ballet company in 1980 and took on the role of ballet mistress.

Parkinson, who maintained her Ballet Theater role until recently, was asked to train actresses Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis for the upcoming film "Black Swan," the Times reported.

Parkinson, who died Friday of complications of cancer, is survived by her husband, Roy Round; her son; her sister, Maureen Seiger; and a grandson, Thomas.