Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 50

interview

Island Life - August/September 2010

Gillian helps
youngsters
take that
first big step
to dancing
stardom but admits
it's a tough
road to hit
the top spot
There is an enthusiasm in Gillian

where only 15 pupils a year are invited

which allowed her to dance with all the

Cartwright’s voice that suggests she

to attend.

leading opera singers.

enjoys every minute of her work, even

She later joined the Australian based

Dancers who have been taught by

though sometimes she admits she has

her are now performing all around

Ballet Go Round, and that took her all

to be cruel to be kind.

the world, and with the help of fellow

over Europe and to many other parts of

tutors Mary Searles and Stacey Ruth, it

the world including South Africa. When

aspiring young dancers visit, hoping

appears the conveyor belt of talent is

she was forced to retire she realised she

one day they will become the next

set to continue for some time.

wanted to give something back to the

Gillian is the lady most of the Island’s

Darcey Bussell or Wayne Sleep. She is

profession that had given her so much.

Gillian began dancing as a

Gillian said: “Because I was trained

principal of the highly successful Gillian

10-year-old. And recalls: “I went to

Cartwright School of Dance, based in

local ballet school in London and

by some of the greatest ballet teachers

Shanklin, and responsible for producing

was lucky that I had a teacher who

I had this wonderful opportunity, and

a succession of talented dancers.

recognised my talent. So from the age

I wanted to hand that back to young

of 11 I went to the Rambert School

students. I feel I have always had

illustrious dance career in the mid

of Dance, and then I went on to Arts

the most amazing career, and I am

1980s, Gillian turned her attention

Educational School in London until I

continuing to do so. It is wonderful

towards nurturing a new batch of

was 18.”

getting up every day and just loving

After a knee injury ended her own

talent, and her success rate has been

She went on to dance professionally as

what I am doing. It is a passion.”
Her school in Grange Road, Shanklin,

quite incredible. No fewer than 15 of

a ballet dancer joining London Festival

her students have graduated to the

Ballet, now known as English National,

hosts around 200 pupils, with Gillian

world renowned Royal Ballet School,

and then the Graz Opera in Austria,

teaching ballet, which she describes

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