Quick Info
| Profession | Dancer, Choreographer, Director, Actor |
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| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | 17/07/1948 |
| Age | 78 years |
| Birthplace | Plymouth, Devon, England |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Latest News about Wayne Sleep
01/11/2026
Wayne Sleep, 78, announced on Instagram that he has been undergoing treatment for cancer since the summer, without specifying the diagnosis. He said he is in good spirits and feeling positive about the future, and credited staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital. The announcement came 11 years after he was first diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer and actor. He trained at the Royal Ballet School, became a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, and has worked in ballet, musical theatre, film and television for over five decades. He is also known for his charitable work supporting young dancers and performers. |
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| Honours | OBE |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
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| Physique note | Often cast in character roles because of his unusual physique |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Training | Royal Ballet School (entered 1961, graduated 1966) |
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Personal Life
| Relationship status | Married |
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| Spouse | José Bergera |
Relationships & More
| Collaborators and choreographers |
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Career
| Royal Ballet | Joined the Royal Ballet in 1966 and became a principal dancer in 1973, performing over 50 roles, several created for him |
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| Notable stage work |
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| Film and television |
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| Company and charity | Toured with his own company, Dash, and founded The Wayne Sleep Foundation, which supports young performers |
| Books |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. He was the shortest male dancer ever admitted to the Royal Ballet School. | |
| 2. He holds a record for performing an entrechat-douze, a jump with twelve beats of the feet. | |
| 3. He is the subject of David Hockney's painting George Lawson and Wayne Sleep, exhibited at the Tate in London. | |
| 4. He appeared in the BBC documentary series Dancing on the Edge (first edition) and in the 2009 production Life is a Cabaret. |
