Margaret Graham Hills’ lifetime dedication to ballet teaching

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, July 25, 2026

Margaret Graham Hills, a distinguished ballet educator who taught for over seven decades in the UK, Turkey, and the US, passed away at 97, leaving a profound influence on generations of dancers and ballet institutions. Her work included helping establish Turkey’s national ballet company, shaping the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, and teaching at leading American dance schools, culminating in her being honored as a fellow of the RAD in 2024.

Margaret Graham Hills, who devoted 73 years to ballet education and passed away at the age of 97, left an indelible impact on the world of dance both in the United Kingdom and the United States. Beginning her teaching career at the Royal Ballet School (RBS) in London after an early injury ended her aspirations as a performer, Hills became renowned for her remarkable ability to teach choreography after minimal exposure and for her dedication to training generations of dancers.

Born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Hills was introduced to ballet at the age of three. After completing her education at Priory School in Shrewsbury, she moved to London at 15 to join Sadler’s Wells Ballet. During World War II, she performed for military personnel at various bases. However, a severe knee injury at age 17 halted her dancing career, prompting RBS founder Ninette de Valois to offer her a position as assistant and teacher at the school. Hills quickly gained recognition for her skill and became senior ballet mistress at RBS by age 27, mentoring notable students including Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell, and Georgina Parkinson.

In 1950, Hills was selected by de Valois to help establish Turkey’s national ballet company in Ankara, where she spent a year and acquired proficiency in Turkish to better instruct the dancers. Upon returning to England, she married Brian Hills, an industrial designer, in 1951. The couple later relocated to Kent, where Hills contributed to the development of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examination syllabus and became an expert in ballet pantomime.

In 1971, the Hills family moved to the United States after Brian accepted a position with Mattel Toys, a planned temporary move that eventually became permanent. In Los Angeles, Margaret Hills continued her teaching career at Stanley Holden’s Dance Center from 1972 to 1997. She also served as a visiting professor and ballet instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) between 1984 and 1993 and taught part-time at Westside Ballet from 2000 until her retirement in 2018 at age 90. In recognition of her contributions to ballet education, she was named an honorary fellow of the RAD in 2024.

Brian Hills passed away in 2020. Margaret Hills is survived by her three children—Sarah, Julian, and Amanda Hills Podany—as well as her grandchildren Emily, Nicholas, Grey, Simone, Fiona, and Sebastian, and great-grandchildren Vivian, Zoe, and James. Her career spanned continents and generations, leaving a lasting legacy in the ballet community.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.