Sally started her classical dancing career in England and South Wales in the UK. After moving to Australia she studied under Linley Wilson in Perth. She qualified and became a teacher for the Linley Wilson School of Dancing teaching RAD. In 1960 she moved to Melbourne and taught ballet for Paul Hammond OAM.
During her teaching career, Sally also taught in Tehran at the British School and worked in the USA with the Youth Ballet Company of Ohio. After returning to Australia she and her daughter, Anna, started their own school, the Beresford Dance School. During the 1960’s Avril Binzer, member of SATD, arrived in Victoria. Avril asked Sally and four other Victorian teachers to join her to establish SATD stage branch in Victoria.
Avril introduced that syllabus and the first junior classical scholarships were held in 1967. During the late 1980’s when a new jazz syllabus was much needed and the necessary funds not made available from the parent body, ATOD was formed to cater specifically for the needs of its stage branch members. In 1991 Sally was a founding member of ATOD and was its inaugural President. Sally served on the Board as President for 3 terms in office and was State Organiser for Victoria for many years.
The inaugural Board of ATOD, under Sally’s leadership, was instrumental in funding the much needed jazz syllabus and in establishing the State and Australasian Scholarship program. Sally is a Life Member of RAD Teachers Workshop Victoria and a Life Member of ATOD. Many of Sally and Anna’s students have moved on to successful careers in the Performing Arts both in Australia and overseas.
