Her daughter Sylvia Graham said the family had received condolence messages from all over the world. Sylvia Graham described her mother as quiet and dedicated to her family when at home - and a different person entirely when she was teaching ballet or choreographing large productions.
She said her mother had remained extremely fit and active for her age, thanks to her years of dancing and teaching.
"She was absolutely driven by her passion for dance. She was teaching a class a week before she died. When everyone's tendency was to tell her to take it easy because she was sick, she said she didn't have time for that. Dancing, and continuing to teach, gave her life."
Mrs Graham began learning ballet at 6years old and started teaching it in Auckland at the age of 16. Some years later she moved to Whangarei where she and her husband Walter bought the Northland School of Ballet. Mrs Graham retired from the small-town teaching circuit a few years ago but continued with some classes, particularly at Ruakaka-based Bream Bay School of Dance.
She is survived by Walter (Wally), five children and grand- and great-grandchildren. Her funeral will be in the chapel at Newberry's Funeral Home, Tuesday April 12, at 11am.
