Miss Phrosso Pfister

Phrosso Pfister was born in London of continental parents. She began dancing at the age of three and has never wanted to work in any other field. Her first link with the Imperial Society was during the early years of the Second World War by taking examinations in Ballet, Modern, Natural Movement and Ballroom. It was at this time that Phrosso Pfister first met Madge Atkinson and Anita Heyworth.

After the war, Phrosso Pfister became a student of the recently founded London College of Educational Dance. In 1949, she accepted a position on the team of staff, and spent the next 36 years in the service of London College initially teaching a wide variety of dance forms and lecturing on the History of Dance.

In 1972, Miss Pfister followed a special one-year course for the Certificate in Education, and was appointed Principal of London College in the following year upon the retirement of Anita Heyworth. During her time as Principal, the college formed a link with Bedford College of Higher Education for a BEd degree course whilst still retaining the Diploma Course for Teaching in Dance Studios.

On her retirement as Principal of London College in 1985, Phrosso Pfister became a freelance teacher and lecturer. She currently teaches Natural Movement in the UK, and has undertaken commitments abroad in Italy and Portugal.

Phrosso Pfister regularly lectures on the History of Dance for teachers and student courses, and also on Teaching Methodology for young teachers as part of the ISTD Associate Diploma examination. In 1981, Phrosso Pfister was the recipient of the Imperial Award.

Her long-term service on the Council of the ISTD began in 1950, and, with a short break in the 1970's, ended in 1998.

Publications: Base paper: 'Dance In Education' by The Gulbenkian Action Conference on Dance Education, 1974. Paper: 'The Future of the Cecchetti Method in Schools and Training' for the Cecchetti Society's International and Commonwealth Conference, 1976. Paper: 'Pre-Blasis Dancing - a Neglected Heritage?' for the HISPA International Conference, the Heritage of Sport, Games and Dance.