Margaret Barbieri

Assistant Director / Répétiteur at The Sarasota Ballet

Margaret Barbieri’s journey from South Africa to England to pursue her passion for ballet is truly inspiring. Joining The Royal Ballet and later becoming a Principal Dancer showcased her exceptional talent and dedication. Her remarkable career spanned 25 years, during which she graced the stage with unforgettable performances in iconic ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Giselle. 

Margaret’s impact as a Romantic Ballerina is nothing short of extraordinary, especially when she took on the title role of Giselle at just 21 years old at The Royal Opera House in London with only six days’ notice. In 1973, she wowed audiences at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin with her mesmerizing performance of Giselle, earning high praise from both the press and spectators. 

Her triumphant return to her native South Africa in 1974 saw her captivating the audience once again with her spellbinding portrayal of Giselle in Durban. At short notice, she stepped in for the indisposed Natalia Makarova at the Norwegian National Ballet, showcasing her remarkable talent in the same role. 

As a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, Margaret captivated audiences worldwide. Adding to her impressive repertoire, her guest appearances with international companies in iconic ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppélia, and Cinderella further solidified her status as a global dance sensation. 

“My first salary in London was £9, which increased to £14 after three months, along with a £5 touring allowance. Out of that I had to keep accommodations in London, and on tour. Those first early years were very tough. I think if my mother knew how difficult those early years were, she would have brought me home immediately.”

Her time in London was a wonderful opportunity to explore various art galleries and many different types of live performances. She often reflects on that period of her life as a strong learning opportunity to explore the arts that were not commonly found in her native home of South Africa. 

In 1990, Margaret retired from The Royal Ballet to take on the exciting role of Director of the new Classical Graduate Programme at London Studio Centre and Artistic Director of the annual touring company, Images of Dance. In April 2010, the University of the Arts, London, awarded her a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning with distinction. 

Margaret’s appointment in August 2012 as Assistant Director with The Sarasota Ballet marked an exciting new chapter. Her passion and dedication have not only resulted in outstanding ballet productions, but also in the mentorship and development of dancers. Her invaluable expertise became even more evident during the 2020-2021 digital season (during the pandemic), where she skillfully adapted production techniques for the digital medium. 

Coming full circle, she will be staging Giselle for the third time in her career, at The Sarasota Ballet after dancing that role over 120 times in her illustrious career. Three performances will take place November 22-23, 2024 at the Sarasota Opera House along with the Sarasota Orchestra. 

“It’s exciting for me to stage Giselle with a lot of dancers performing this for the first time. I find it rewarding to develop the dancers and make the ballet come to life, and to see the dancers make the role their own. I’m really looking forward to that.”

When Margaret is not busy working at The Sarasota Ballet, she loves to attend performances by other Sarasota arts organizations like Asolo Rep, Sarasota Opera, and Sarasota Orchestra, as well as visiting The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 

Text by Tom Reese | Photo by Nancy Guth

Box Office: 941-359-0099
boxoffice@sarasotaballet.org
5555 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota FL 34243