KIM BARKER

Kim Barker (Graduate Diploma in Education; Diploma in Fine Arts) has taught Ballet and Dance for over 30 years
She is a choreographer, dancer and teacher.

As a dancer, she trained with many great teachers, including Tessa Maunder, Lorraine Norton, Valerie Franks and Margaret Chappell .
She was invited to join the Kasatka Cossacks Dance Company in London where she also attended open classes at The London Dance Centre, The Pineapple Dance Centre and the Urdang Dance Centre.

Kim has taught RAD, Cecchetti, Contemporary Dance and has been a Guest Teacher and Adjudicator.

In addition Kim has taught for the NSW Department of Education K  12 specialising in the areas of Ballet/Dance/Art and Reading Recovery
She successfully implemented and directed the Hunter Region Dance Ensemble as well as the Whitebridge Dance Ensemble for two years.
The high standard of the dancers at the Schools Spectacular, State Dance Festival and Starstruck were commended.

Kim has developed programs in Ballet, Modern and Boys Dance at The Hunter Performing Arts School, Whitebridge High School, Byron Bay High School, Windale Public School, Tighes Hill Public School and Kanwal Public School.

Bodenwieser Centre, Sydney.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bodenwieser-gertrud-9532

Miss Kim often attended the Margaret Chapple classes at this Centre in Sydney also classes with several other teachers including Ronne Arnold.

Baby Ballerinas

The Baby Ballerinas-Tamara, Irina and Tatiana

The Baby Ballerinas were 3 young leading principal dancers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1930s. They were individually selected by George Balanchine, and deemed the "Baby Ballerinas" by ballet critic Arnold Haskell based upon their age.
Read more at Russian Ballet History Diaghilev's Ballets Russes 1909-1929

Irina Mikhailovna Tennant (Baronova) (1919 - 2008)
About Irina Mikhailovna Tennant (Baronova)

 She studied with Olga Preobrajenska in Paris, after her parents had emigrated from Russia. Original Ballerina in the Ballet Russes. "Irina made her debut with the Paris Opera in 1930, aged 11. Choreographer Georges Balanchine one day noticed the little girl with the grace of movement and obvious commitment to the stage. He engaged her for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. She was 13 years old. And then Balanchine hit on an idea. He would get three very young dancers straight from the school and make them into a company of children. He chose Tamara Toumanova, 13, Tatiana Riabouchinska, 15 and Irina, 13. In 1933, during their first season in London, ballet writer Arnold Haskell gave them a nickname that stuck: the Three Baby Ballerinas. It turned out to be a piece of marketing genius. The baby ballerinas caused a sensation, packing houses around Europe, the US and beyond.
(Source: Sunday Age (Melbourne) September 14, 2003 Sunday
Agenda; Pg. 1 "My Life With ... "
BY: Peter Wilmoth)
Read more at Geni 

Miss Karen organised the Preview the film Ballet Russes at the Newcastle Lyrique Theatre and Irina's launch and signing of her book - Irina

Family wth Irina

Granddaughter, Tahlia with Irina

Miss Karen and me with Irina

The late Irina spent her final years living with her daughter in Australia. Miss Karen was honoured to have her as Patron of Baby Ballerinas & Co..
Miss Kim painted two portraits of her in 2006.

Collection of Irina Tennant

Collection of the Artist on loan to the Studio Baby Ballerinas and Co

PEGGY SAGER

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35285/20120626-0000/www.australiadancing.org/subjects/103.html

Portrait of Peggy Sager in costume for Les sylphides, Kirsova Ballet, between 1942 and 1945
Part of Peggy Sager ballet photographs [1938-1961]

Miss Karen & her sister Kim were both guest teachers at Peggy's Summer Schools at Tallebudgera & on her retirement Peggy offered them the takeover of the School.

In our book collection.

Miss Karen and Olivia with Peggy and her husband at their home.

Teachers and Staff

                          Peggy Sager Ballet Summer School at Tallebudgera, Gold Coast.

L to R Back row: Marilyn Jones, Ann Roberts,Mrs Hardy, Mrs Gough, Mrs Robbins, Peggy Sager

Sitting: Tanya G, Sally, Katie, Christine Howard, Miss Karen, Mrs Goodwin.

 

Guest teachers,Miss Kim and Miss Karen on Summer School final "muck-up" day.

Martin Rubinstein, Summer School guest teacher.

Highlight of the final night student Presentation

was Olivia (3yrs) in a pas de deux with Martin.

                                       

The Nutcracker -1957 - The Empire Theatre

Miss Kim (in red) then Christine Howard, Martin Rubinsteinwith Peggy Sager standing.