Biography

Margaret Morris was a pioneering teacher whose avant-garde ideas of the 1920s and 1930s paved the way for modern and contemporary dance. Born in London, Morris studied as a dancer from an early age. However, by twelve she was rebelling against the limitations of classical ballet and began to develop a freer form of dance, before opening her own dance school in 1910. Three years later, during a trip to Paris, Morris met the Scottish artist John Duncan Fergusson. Together they collaborated on designs for Margaret’s dance productions. In 1939 the couple settled in Glasgow and Morris established the Celtic Ballet Club followed by the Scottish National Ballet. She was Fergusson’s muse and also an accomplished artist in her own right.