South African examiner, Sheila Stirling FRAD, passes away

Sheila Stirling (Mrs Dove) was a Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance. She held membership with the organisation since 1949. Her dance training in the RAD method took her through all levels to the Solo Seal award. She was appointed to the RAD board of examiners in 1960 and examined extensively for over 40 years.

Whilst Sheila’s first love was always ballet, she also trained in classical Greek, tap and ballroom dancing. In her birthplace, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), she ran her own dance school alongside holding the post of RAD Local Organiser for 30 years.

Sheila and her family relocated to Cape Town in 1983, and she took up a teaching post at the University of Cape Town Ballet School. She served on the committee of the RAD Western Cape Regional Advisory Panel and also held office as chairlady for many years. In 1996, she was honoured with a Fellowship Award – the highest award of the Royal Academy of Dance and one that is awarded to members for outstanding service over an extended period of time. Sheila and her husband Colin Dove were the RAD’s regional organisers in the Western Cape Province for many years.

She was passionate about dance teacher education, and many of today’s RAD teachers were coached and mentored by her.

Her dynamic personality, outspoken frankness, strength and encouragement earned her the respect and admiration of her peers. It would be true to say that she enriched the world of ballet with her knowledge of the arts, her outgoing personality and loyalty to the highest code of ethics of her profession.

Her beautiful legacy lives on.