Record

CodeDS/UK/22261
NameWilliams; Chenca (fl 1990s); British ballet dancer and bridal fashion designer
Datesfl 1990s
GenderFemale
Place of Birth/OriginUnited Kingdom (born)
RelationshipsDaughter of Ritva Westenius (founder of Ritva Westenius bridal boutique in Connaught Village)
BiographyChenca joined her mother’s bridal wear business, after a professional dancing career spanning 25 years. She went on to run the boutique in 2015, which was founded in 1977.

Before joining the business, she had risen to the highest rank in ballet performance and stayed at that peak for 11 years. “I joined the company after a lifetime with the Royal Ballet,” she says. She was interested in ballet from a very early age and began her studies at the age of 10, training at the Royal Ballet School’s White Lodge. Her career took off at Sadler’s Wells.

“At the age of 17 I was chosen by Sir Frederick Ashton to dance the part of the Gypsy Girl in his wonderful ballet The Two Pigeons,” she recalls. She progressed through the company, becoming a principal for the last 11 years of her career.

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