Volume includes index The UCLA Oral History Program : catalog of the collection. 3rd ed. / compiled by Teresa Barnett (Los Angeles : Oral History Program, Dept. of Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles, 1999); available in the UCLA Dept. of Special Collections The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York, NY Margaret Graham Hills was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England on July 25, 1928 and was married to Brian Hills in 1951. She became a member of Sadler's Wells Ballet in London in 1945 and soon became asst. to the founder and director, Ninette de Valois in working out the school syllabus. From her base at Sadler's Wells (later the Royal Ballet), she became increasingly involved with the pedagogics of dancing--teaching, physical therapy, developing courses, coaching--and also helped found various dance schools (e.g., in Ankara, Turkey in 1951 and later in southern England.) She moved to So. Cal. in 1971 and has been associated since then with various dance efforts, among them the Stanley Holden Dance Center, the Palos Verdes Civic Ballet, the studio of Roland Dupree and the UCLA dance program. She has received innumerable honors and awards in her lifetime The interview begins with Graham Hills's childhood, education and early performances in England, her decision to become a ballet dancer, her years with the Sadler's Wells/Royal Ballet as performer, teacher and senior ballet mistress of the school, her experiences in Ankara co-founding and teaching at the Turkish National Ballet School, marriage and motherhood, teaching dance to children, moving to the US and establishing a ballet teaching career in the US. Major topics of discussion include the teaching and training of dancers, Cecchetti and The Royal Academy of Dancing Examinations, training with the Sadler's Wells Ballet, dance in England during World War II, dance injuries, the relationship of dance to national culture, music for ballet classes, choreography and choreographers, professional dance in Los Angeles associated with the television and movie industries, comparison of teaching and training standards in the UK, the US and Russia, teaching in professional studios vs. academic settings, becoming an American citizen, and Graham Hills's philosophy of teaching and performing dance Transcript of a 8.45-hour interview completed under the auspices of the UCLA Oral History Program Forms part of: Oral History collection, Dept. of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Los Angeles