Renowned ballet teacher Olivia Dow dies
The much-loved teacher trained and mentored countless ballerinas over three decades
Renowned ballet teacher Olivia Dow, who trained countless dancers in Malta in the classical art of Russian ballet, has died.
Tributes to the much-loved ballet teacher, who was married to the late John Baldacchino, the school’s former artistic director, poured in on Friday as former students and parents of current students reminisced about her legacy and mentorship.
Prominent dancer and choreographer Alison White said Dow was the “reason” she first came to Malta in 1974, originally for a short contract before staying on. She recalled the time when the two dancers worked together at the Preluna Hotel in 1974.
A former student said Dow was “an inspiration, and a second mother in the studio”.
“You taught me how to dance, but more importantly, you taught me how to move through life with grace and strength,” she added.
The Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet in Naxxar was established in 1993 and regularly staged original productions featuring its students.
The school coaches students in the traditional Russian Classical Ballet Legat System after Dow herself was trained by the wife of the founder of the system. While living in London, Dow trained under Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat, wife of Nicolas Legat who had coached Russian legendary ballet stars Vaslav Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova.