Margaret Scott

Dame Catherine Margaret Mary Scott, (26 April 1922 – 24 February 2019) was a South African-born pioneering ballet dancer who found fame as a teacher, choreographer, and school administrator in Australia. As the first director of the Australian Ballet School, she is recognised as one of the founders of the strong ballet tradition of her adopted country. Early life and training Margaret Scott was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the youngest of three, including twins Joan and Barbara. As a child, she was encouraged by her free-spirited family to pursue her interest in dance, which had developed early in her childhood. Throughout her youth, she attended ballet classes at the Conmee School of Dancing, where, under the direction of London-trained Ivy Conmee, instruction was given according to the syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dancing. On graduation from the Parktown Convent School, Scott went with her mother to London in 1939, when she was 17, and auditioned successfully for entrance to the Sadler's Wells Ballet School. There she polished her classical technique under the demanding tutelage of Dame Ninette de Valois and a faculty of renowned teachers. Dancing in England Despite the outbreak of war with Germany in September 1939, soon after her arrival in England, Scott decided to remain in London and continue her dance training. After some months at the Sadler's Wells school, she joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet and began her professional career. She stayed with the company only a year. Attracted by the more adventurous repertory of Ballet Rambert, she applied to Marie Rambert and was engaged as a soloist with her company. Promoted to principal dancer in 1943, Scott spent five more years with Ballet Rambert, dancing leading and supporting roles in the repertory, including audience favourites such as Michel Fokine's Les Sylphides and Antony Tudor's Jardin aux Lilas as well as new works by Andrée Howard, Frank Staff, and Walter Gore. The war years were difficult ones for the Rambert company, but it began to recover its strength and popularity after the war. In 1947, Ballet Rambert toured Australia, under the auspices of D. D. O'Connor and the British Council. The company's highly successful tour was extended several times until eighteen months had been spent away from home. When the tour ended, some dancers, including Scott and Sally Gilmour, chose to remain in Australia.