margaret Illmann
Margaret enjoyed a 21 year career as an international Principal ballerina before returning to Australia and obtaining a Bachelor of Physiotherapy to focus on Dance/movement Physiotherapy and Performance coaching.
She began her dance training in the Cecchetti method, joined the Australian Ballet Company (Hon.Dip Dance ABS), then becoming Principal dancer with the Canadian, Stuttgart, Berlin and Vienna Ballet Companies. Principal guesting included New York City Ballet, English National Ballet, La Scala Milan, Hamburg Ballet, Dresden Ballet, Bavarian State Ballet Munich and Zurich, dancing the major repertoire.
Coaches included Makarova, Popa, Dowell, Robbins, Haydee, Grant, Golovine, Schaufuss + Verdi. One highlight was representing Australia and dancing Juliet with the Royal Danish Ballet for the Wedding Gala of Mary Donaldson.
Margaret received several honours including South Australian Young Achievers Award and a Pommery Scholarship to study with Paris Opera School. Her varied career included published articles, television appearances and the lead role on Broadway as Victoria Page in The Red Shoes (1994-1995). Here she was awarded The Theatre World Award as Best Actress on Broadway, the Fred Astaire Prize as Best Dancer on Broadway and a New York Drama Desk Nomination. Canadian television made specials about her work and she was presented with main European Critics Awards.
Returning to Australia mid-2005 she coordinated/lectured ballet for the West Australian Academy of the Performing Arts dance department, obtained a degree in Teaching/Assessment and Business/Marketing, then a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Notre Dame University Perth. She focuses on Dance Physiotherapy, guest adjudicating and sharing her varied knowledge through masterclasses and performance coaching.
She is a member of APA, a trustee for the Valrene Tweedie Scholarship for aspiring dancers and an ambassador of Cecchetti, Australia.