Winifred Edwards (1895-1989). British dancer and teacher
Most famous for the work she did with many dancers of The Royal Ballet towards the end of her career, the fascinating early life of Winifred Edwards is often overlooked. Her early training in London was with Miss Hutton Moss, Freda Grant and Lucia Cormani and her idol at this time was Anna Pavlova. In 1912 she joined Pavlova’s company as Vera Fredowa and became one of the first of Pavlova’s “English girls”. From 1916 until 1919 she danced with the company of Theodore Kosloff in the United States of America and was subsequently a partner in his San Francisco and Dallas schools until 1934, when she returned to Britain to take care of her mother. After working on an ecological survey in Dorset, and with the British Red Cross during World War Two, she trained as a teacher under Phyllis Bedells at the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD), passing her exams at the age of 53. She joined the Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet School in 1947, where she taught until 1955. She continued to teach the RAD Major Examination work at The Royal Ballet School until 1963, as well as occasionally guest teaching for The Royal Ballet. After her formal retirement, Edwards gave private lessons to many Royal Ballet dancers, and was particularly noted for the help she gave dancers attempting to overcome injury. Her later formidable and exacting presence in both her work and appearance belied the youthful spirit that took her on tour with Pavlova in her teens.