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State Library New South Wales, SydneyAudrey was born in Townsville, Queensland on the 27 January 1931 and was one of Australia's most loved and respected, experienced and admired ballet teachers. She was a Life Member, former Graded Examiner for 33 years and in 2011 was awarded the Fellowship of The Royal Academy of Dance. She was Patron of the RAD Victoria Tasmania Panel.
As well as being a Leading Soloist with the Borovansky Ballet, which was the precursor to The Australian Ballet, she was also a Principal Dancer with Ballet Rambert in the UK and Principal Guest Artist with Ballet Guild, (Ballet Victoria).
Highlights in Audrey's career as a dancer include dancing the title roles of Giselle, Swanilda in Coppelia, Lola in Jack Carter's The Life and Death of Lola Montez, and she created the role of Flame Lady in John Cranko's ballet Variations on a Theme. She performed for the Queen Mother at a Royal Command Performance, dancing the Polka from Facade and Birdcage in Movimientos.
Together with Eve King, they ran a successful full-time ballet school in Melbourne for 40 years along with Martin Rubinstein. She was also resident Ballerina on HSV7 variety television, bringing classical ballet into the homes of people who had never attended a ballet performance in a theatre. In 1992 Audrey returned to the stage as Guest Artist with The Australian Ballet in Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker - The Story of Clara, as James' mother in Erik Bruhn's La Sylphide, Stephen Baynes' Raymonda and Sir Peter Wright's The Nutcracker.
In 2013 Audrey was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts, particularly ballet. Those who knew Audrey will remember her for her grace and elegance, compassion and humour, her remarkable memory for productions, people and dance history. Her authority came through care, and the high standards that she lived by herself.
Audrey died on 1 July 2026, aged 95.
