| Laurel Martyn began her ballet studies in Toowoomba, Queensland, where she was born; she then studied in Brisbane, London and Paris. Laurel was a member of the Sadlers Wells (now Royal) Ballet in London and returned to Australia due to the outbreak of war. For several years Laurel was a ballerina, teacher, ballet mistress and choreographer at the Borovansky Company, Melbourne. Branching out on her own, Laurel became the artistic director of the Victorian Ballet Guild, which later became Ballet Victoria. She had many roles and choreographed 28 original ballets, many of which were televised by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. She was principal of the ballet school attached to the company, which provided a full-time performers course, and its satellite Ballet Victoria Schools, which are still operational. This is where she began the work that is continued today in Box Hill Institute’s Diploma of Dance (Teaching and Management). Box Hill Institute is honoured to have Laurel Martyn’s continued patronage and ongoing contribution to the promotion of the importance of dance teaching and the improvement of the standard of dance teaching provided to the community. |
