Peggy van Praagh

Peggy van Praagh was a British ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, repetiteur, producer, advocate and director, who spent much of her later career in Australia. She was born in London and was of Dutch, Scottish and English descent. She began dancing at the age of four and joined Ballet Rambert in 1933. She worked with renowned choreographer Antony Tudor and created leading roles in some of his ballets. She also danced with the London Ballet and the Sadler's Wells Ballet, where she became a teacher and director of the touring company. She freelanced in Europe and America as a producer, director and teacher from 1955 to 1960, when she was invited to Australia to direct the Borovansky Ballet. She urged the Australian government to form a national ballet company and became its founding artistic director in 1962. She led the Australian Ballet until 1974 and cultivated a distinct national style, commissioned works by Australian composers and raised the level of ballet instruction throughout the country. She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966 and was elevated to Dame Commander in 1970. She continued to work as a guest teacher and director until her death in 1990. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Australian ballet history.