- Ballet dancer and teacher; founded the National Ballet of Canada in 1951 and was its artistic director for 24 years.
- She later attended the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Academy of Dancing.
- In 1951, she went to Canada and established a classical ballet company within 10 months, while earning a living as a file clerk at a department store. The fledgling National Ballet of Canada was helped by guest artists such as Lynn Seymour, Erik Bruhn, and Rudolf Nureyev.
- In 1941, she joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet (now the Royal Ballet), and was considered one of the finest dramatic ballerinas.
- She performed in London during WWII, and continued dancing even during air raids.
- She began taking dance lessons when she was four.
- She was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on December 22, 1967 and received on November 12,1968 for her services to the Arts as co-founder, leading dancer and artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada and co-founder of the National Ballet School.
- She was awarded the C.C. (Companion of the Order of Canada) on June 24, 1985 and received on October 30,1985 for her services as Founder and Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada, she fought against all odds for twenty-four years to build what has become one of the major ballet companies in the world. Since her appointment as an Officer of the Order in 1967, she has become even more active as an internationally-known teacher, producer and director.
- She was awarded the Order of Ontario for her services to the arts.
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