Dorothy Cox-Scruton11 October 1911 - 22 October 2011

Celebrating 100 Years!

Dorothy Cox-Scruton was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, along

with her sister, Gwen and two brothers, Eric and Lionel. Her parents were both highly accomplished musicians that emigrated to Canada in 1909 from England.

Besides dancing, which Dorothy began at age seven, she also played piano, sang and was active in drama as a young child. Later in life, she took up painting and wrote poetry, publishing A Few Poems to Ponder.

During the 1930s there was no Royal Academy of Dance activity in Canada. As a consequence, Dorothy had to travel to London, England to take her Elementary

exam (now Intermediate), which after passing, gave her membership to an organization that she strongly believed in. The RAD at that time was known as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain.

The exams took most of the day, with Mme Genée sitting at the front table with three examiners who moved around the room marking. Dorothy was so thrilled during that Elementary exam when one of the Academy’s founding members, Adeline Genée, “beckoned to her and said ‘just lower your second finger slightly otherwise, very nice’ and then patted (her) on the cheek.” The exam was quite an event, all candidates wore white ballet tutus, just above the knees. There were no tights in the early 30s. Instead, candidates wore long pink silk stockings, which were held up and attached to a wide dance belt.

During the 1940s, Dorothy inspired teachers and promoted the RAD syllabi throughout the west coast, and in 1947 she decided to relocate to London, Ontario where she contined to inspire teachers, including Bernice Harper, who because of the relationship with Dorothy, had become a Royal Academy of Dance examiner.

It was in 1950 that Dorothy opened her studio, the London Academy of Dance and Theatre Arts and many non-syllabus teachers who had heard of Dorothy traveled from far and wide to learn the RAD method from her, including those as far away as Windsor.

It was her love and dedication to dance that had Dorothy being honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance in 1995, when she was presented with the President’s Award at Academy headquarters in

London, England. The distinction is given to those who have given continued loyalty and service to the Academy. And, it was the first time a Canadian had ever been honoured with the accolade.

Upon her death, the Academy has once again honoured her with the creation of the Dorothy Cox-Scruton Bursary. This bursary assists first-year students enrolled in the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies program pursue their dance teaching career while residing in Canada, in keeping with the spirit of Dorothy’s vision of establishing a school of the arts, where students could study in Canada instead of having to travel abroad.

Five Generations: Christine Winter, great granddaughter (left); Dorothy Cox-Scruton (centre) holding great-great granddaughter, Olivia; Julie, Dorothy’s daughter holding great-great granddaughter Abby (right), and Elizabeth, granddaughter (standing behind Dorothy).

Thoughtsby: Dorothy Cox-Scruton

It I can be a little helpUpon life’s rocky way;

A stepping stone to ease the pathAnd make life seem more gay.

If I can give a word of hopeA depressend one, lift;

To think of others instead of self,Is life’s most precious gift.

If to the young, I can teachWhen elders they resent;

That they who live more yearsTo reason are more bent.

Then life to me will be well spent,For when I move beyond;

Encouragement will in them live,because I came along.