Jackson Rowena

New Zealand dancer, the most loved prima ballerina of her day, noted for her "fouettes" (turns), for which she held the world record. Born in Invercargill, Jackson went to school at Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland. Winning a Royal Academy of Dancing scholarship, she left New Zealand to study in England at Sadlers Wells in 1946. From 1954 to 1959, she was a prima ballerina with the Royal Ballet, touring Europe and North America. She married Philip Chatfield in 1958 and returned to New Zealand to become Artistic Director of the New Zealand Ballet. They had two children. She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to ballet. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less