Peggy Sager (1924 – 2002) was an Australian dancer and educator. The daughter of James and Rose Sager, she was born in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. She trained at the Nettleton-Edwards School in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

. After passing her

Royal Academy of Dancing "Health and happiness" , predecessor = , successor = , formation = 1920 , extinction = , type = NGO , status = Registered charity , purpose = Examination board – dance education and training , headquarters = 36 Battersea SquareSW11 3R ...

(RAD) advanced level exam in 1941, she moved to

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

. She passed the RAD Solo Seal exam and joined the

Kirsova Ballet The Kirsova Ballet was the first professional Australian ballet company. It was founded by prima ballerina Hélène Kirsova in 1941. Initially the leading performers were dancers who had stayed in Australia following the 1938/1939 tour of the Co ...

, which was based in Sydney. After that company folded, Sager joined the Borovansky Ballet in 1945. She performed with that company until she was forced to retire because of illness in 1959. Her partners in dance included her first husband Paul Hammond, Vassilie Trunoff, Royes Fernandez, , Robert Pomie and

Garth Welch Garth de Burgh Welch (born 14 April 1936) is an Australian dancer and choreographer. Early life and training Welch was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School. His initial dance training took place ...

. During the late 1940s, during an extended layoff period from the company, she danced with the

Metropolitan Ballet Metropolitan Ballet was a short lived British ballet company. Founded in 1947 by Cecelia Blatch and Leon Hepner, the company performed in London and on tour in the provinces and abroad, staging shortened versions of the classics, some of the Diaghi ...

in England and the Brussels Opera in Belgium. She married dancer Paul Hammond in 1945. In 1959, she married businessman Ken Taylor. Sager opened a ballet school with her first husband in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

in 1953. In 1954, she received the RAD's advanced teacher's certificate. For a number of years after her retirement from performing, she was director of the Peggy Sager School of Ballet in Mount Eliza. She also served on the board of

The Australian Ballet The Australian Ballet is the largest classical ballet company in Australia. It was founded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1962, with the English-born dancer, teacher, repetiteur and direct ...

. Sager was known for her technical ability although she was told by English dancer

Anton Dolin Anton Dolin may refer to: * Anton Dolin (ballet dancer) Sir Anton Dolin (27 July 190425 November 1983) was an English ballet dancer and choreographer. Biography Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey ...

that she was "not a chocolate-box beauty". She appeared in the 1948 film '' The Red Shoes''. Sager died in

Coffs Harbour Coffs Harbour is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. It is one of the largest urban centres on the North Coast, with a population of 78,759 as per 2021 census. The Gumbaynggirr ...

at the age of 78.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sager, Peggy 1924 births 2002 deaths Australian ballerinas People from Auckland People from Melbourne New Zealand emigrants to Australia