Margaret Morris (dancer)

Margaret Morris
Morris in the 1920s, photographed by Fred Daniels
Born	1891 Kensington
Died	29 February 1980 (aged 89) Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation	Choreographer and dancer
Spouse(s)	John Duncan Fergusson

Margaret Morris (1891 in Kensington, London, England – 29 February 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland) was a British dancer, choreographer and teacher. She was the first proponent of the Isadora Duncan technique in Great Britain. She founded the Margaret Morris Movement, Celtic Ballet, and two Scottish National Ballets in Glasgow (1947) and in Pitlochry (1960).

Although Morris was born in London, she lived with her parents until the age of five in France. She had no formal academic education, but went to dancing classes. In 1894 she began reciting professionally in French and later in English, at parties, smoking concerts and court drawing rooms. In 1899 she had her first stage engagement in pantomime - Little Red Riding Hood at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, playing First Fairy 'Twinkle Star' with solo dances and recitations before a front drop.

In 1900 she joined the Ben Greet Shakespearian Company and played 'Puck' in A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She remained with the company for three years, acting and dancing. In 1903 she played child parts in Drury Lane melodramas and in The Water Babies at The Garrick Theatre. Between tours she studied dancing with John D'Auban, ballet master at Drury Lane. She began to compose dances of her own and at the age of twelve reacted against the limitation of the Italian classical ballet technique. She began creating more natural exercises but realised also that a basic training was necessary. In 1907 she joined the Benson Shakespearian Company as 'Ingenue Principal Dancer' and understudy to Lady Benson.