She was born and raised in the Lowveld, and next year marks her 40th year of teaching classical ballet here.

She was trained by Cherry Mason and Elise de Villiers (no relation) and would spend her holidays in Johannesburg dancing with some of South Africa’s top teachers of the day. These teachers included the well-known Marjorie Sturman and Ivy Conmey, among many others.

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Many students have passed through her capable hands and gone on to be accepted by the Pretoria Art, Music and Ballet school, dance on stage, get a BMus – ballet at UCT and at least 15 have qualified as ballet teachers under her tutoring. These include her two daughters, Lynn Edmondson and Danielle Beer.

As a mother of six and grandmother of 12 she knows the trials of bringing up children and has always had the desire to impart the love and joy of ballet to her students.

She also knows the wonderful benefits that ballet gives a child:- confidence, core strength, coordination, balance, musicality, poise, performance quality and self-worth.