Laura Wilson (1901-1999) Cecchetti Council of America REMEMBERING LAURA WILSON – 1999 The Charter Members of the Cecchetti Council of America had the insight to bring the first generation Cecchetti
Helen Webb (1882-1968) Robert Crompton’s* former pupil Helen Webb arrived in South Africa in 1912 and introduced “fancy dancing” to Cape Town from 1913. As she was 30 at the
MEMORIES OF EARLY DAYS Written by Brenda Hamlyn-Bencini My memory of Peggy van Praagh is still vivid in spite of the many years that have passed since I first met
Valrene Tweedie O.A.M. (1925-2008) The Cecchetti Organisation in Australia must count itself very fortunate to have had such an experienced member of the dance profession as one of its staunchest
Margaret Saul (1902-1987) Margaret Saul was born in Dover, England, where her father had a dentist’s practice. She had one brother and one sister. Unusual in that era, she left
Lucie Saronova (1900-1988) Madam Lucie Saronova was the founding organizer and first chairman of the Australian Cecchetti Society branch of the imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; her term of
Mabel Ryan, a South African, was born in Cape Town. She went overseas to study ballet and danced with the Pavlova Company. In the 1930s the Craske-Ryan School opened at
Nora Roche (1906-1982) Born in London, England in 1906, Nora Roche first studied dancing with Dore Desnaux. As a student, she studied the Cecchetti method with Margaret Craske. From 1925
Cecily Robinson (1916-2003) After training as a pupil of Helen Webb, and more seriously with Helen B. White in Webb’s studio Cecily Robinson decided it was time to learn more
Betty Oliphant (1918-2004) A true pioneer – so many dance related institutions thriving in Canada and elsewhere in the world today owe their beginnings and bear witness to the vision,