"My introduction to London theatre has started with Covent Garden," says David, "where as a student in the Sadler's Wells Ballet school I was allowed to watch performances for free. None of the other students seemed interested, but I went as often as they would allow.

"Endless performances of Sleeping Beauty, with Fonteyn, Shearer, Paltengi. I devoured it.

"Eventually the choreography of Ashton, Massine, Helpman.

"There were other companies performing in London. Ballet Rambert where I saw my first ever performance of Les Sylphides, and hated it. How I would eat my thoughts later on when I would dance in hundreds of performances of that ballet with the National Ballet of Canada and Festival Ballet of London.

"I would see the Original ballet Russe, with Riabouchinska,Jasinsky,Dokoudovsky, Lichine.

"The Grand Ballet Marquis de Cuevas company with, Hightower, Eglevsky, Tallchief, Skibine.

"Les Etoiles de la Danse with Colette Marchand, Serge Perrault, Renee Jeanmaire, Vladimir Skouratoff.

"The Ballet Champs Elysées from Paris, with Roland Petit, Jean Babilée, Natalie Phillapart, (nicknamed Fallapart) Zizi Jeanmaire and a young Leslie Caron, later to be featured in a film with Gene Kelly. This company offered a repertoire that was so different than what we were seeing in London. A Young Man and Death with Babilée left a lasting impression. I shall never see another Bluebird pas de deux to equal his. He was indeed the Nijinsky of the 40s, and then some.

"I would see and hear Vaughan Williams conduct his own London Symphony at Albert Hall.

"Annie Get your Gun with Paddy Stone - ex Winnipeg Ballet dancer, doing an Indian dance.