Doreen was born in Pretoria, started ballet at the age of 11 and trained under Roshild Leibbrandt and Marjory Sturman from the Royal Academy of Dancing in London.
When the second World War broke out, she became a staff sergeant in the 19th Reserve entertainment unit, dancing for the troops all over South Africa. She got married at the end of the war and she and her husband moved to England where he flew for the Royal Flight. Doreen started ballet training again and was principal dancer at London Colosseum for a year.
They moved to Germany where Doreen worked in War Records in Berlin while her husband flew in the Air Force. In their time there, they witnessed the construction of the first autobahn (highway) and the Berlin wall.
They returned to London where she trained for five years to become a dance teacher and when they later moved to Zimbabwer, she taught dancing in Salisbury for 43 years. They landed up in Mossel Bay where she continued teaching for 17 years.
She was a life-long member of the Royal Academy of Dancing and trained nine students to become teachers over the years.
She says it is God’s grace that she is still able to teach.
Doreen has one son, who is a pilot in Abu Dhabi, and two granddaughters - one is a pilot and the other a Pilates teacher in Cape Town.
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Doreen (87) teaching a pilates class at the RLR Retirement Centre.
PHOTOS: JUANITA VAN WYK
