This Is Your Life: Madame Vacani

Madame VACANI

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Dame Marguerite Olivia Rankin, dance teacher known professionally as 'Madame Vacani', was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

Marguerite founded the Vacani School of Dance in 1915, a school which taught the sort of dancing and social etiquette that was a necessary accomplishment for young ladies and gentlemen of quality. Pupils were taught the ballroom dances of the day and debutante ladies learned the curtsy needed when presented at court

Madame Vacani held private classes for the Royal Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, and later Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

programme details...

Edition No: 148
Subject No: 148
Broadcast live: Mon 23 Jan 1961
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 6
Edition: 19

on the guest list...

Rose Turner
Mrs Thompson
Victoria Thompson
John Rankin - son
Walter Millard
Nannie Murphy
Lady Carolyn Howard
Lesley Howard
John Wilson
Betty Vacani - niece
Beverley Snyder
Henrietta Tiarks
Robert Morley
James Chatto
Janet Smith

production team...

Researcher: Nickola Sterne
Writer: Nickola Sterne
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

with thanks to John Wilson for his contribution to this page

related pages...

A Dancer's Life

from ballet to ballroom

Robert Morley

Photographs of Madame Vacani This Is Your Life

Series 6 subjects