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Gillian McGregor remembers this well loved dancer, teacher and friend
It was with enormous sadness that many of us attended the funeral of Jennifer Morgan on 9th October, which was beautifully arranged by her son Paul and daughter Anna. Jenny died, after a short illness, on 30th September, and her loss will be felt by her many friends, both at home and abroad.
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Left: Jennifer Morgan |
Brought up in Hampstead, she attended Channing School, where she did Greek dancing with Barbara Geoghegan; she was a pupil and later a student with Laura Wilson until her entry into the Upper School of the Royal Ballet School. She was one of the most musical dancers I have known, with a lovely flow of movement. Jenny toured a little, dancing professionally, and later started Northwood Ballet School where she and Larraine Heaffey taught for many years, with a number of pupils going on to become professionals. Together they staged many shows, where Jenny's extraordinary gift for choreography was used to wonderful effect.
She became a Fellow, Committee Member, and Examiner both at home and internationally, and her great interest in people and their lives made her many friends.
Ballet was not her only talent. She took an Open University course while still teaching and gained her degree with pride. She had a good singing voice and sang with a church choir in Hampstead and returned regularly to sing with them at Christmas.
Those of us who knew her will miss her greatly; for myself there will be a very big void.
Gillian McGregor nee Dawson
Ballet was Jennifer Morgan’s life, from the Royal Ballet School, dancing in venues throughout Europe, teaching and latterly examining. The Cecchetti Society is the foundation that enabled her to do the work she loved when she could no longer dance herself.
One of the key events of the year for the Cecchetti Society is the Teachers’ Summer School. She was concerned that many overseas Ballet teachers were unable to attend the Summer School, due to the lack of support in their home countries. With the help of the Cecchetti Society, Jennifer Morgan’s family wish to establish the ‘Jennifer Morgan Summer School Scholarship’ to assist teachers from overseas to attend this event. This fund will be managed by the Cecchetti Society Charitable Trust and will ensure that her memory will live on. If you would like to contribute cheques should be made payable to The Cecchetti Society with ‘Jennifer Morgan Trust’ written on the back and sent to Elisabeth Swan at 28 Prykes Drive, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1TP. |
