For a brief few hours this afternoon, I was privileged to enter the magical world that had belonged to Shelagh Miller Wood since she was 4 years old. Shelagh arrived at my home with photograph albums full of a life’s journey through the fantasy world of ballet, Spanish and tap dancing, pantomime, stage shows and television over the past 75 years.I was enthralled by the photographs of the “Shirley Temple” of the Cape which was a very young and beautiful 4 year old Shelagh . The albums were full of her youthful years in the Cape, achieving awards as an acrobat, in ballet, tap and pantomime, a beautifully supple young girl, radiating an elfin grace in all her accomplishments. The programmes of all the stage shows Shelagh performed in depicted a very balanced life in the “Arts”. Many of these shows were performed for a variety of charities in the Cape.
Shelagh and her sister were known as the “Miller Sisters” and their strongest support was their mother who was dedicated to their success.
Shelagh and her sister eventually departed for England. Here Shelagh performed in shows all over the U.K. and in Ireland, whilst her sister joined the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company. The photographs of Brigadoon, Cinderella and other ballet stage shows in which Shelagh danced are still magical today.
It was an unfortunate back injury that prevented Shelagh from continuing her career as a dancer, but her dedication to the stage found her choreographing the shows she had previously danced in, very successfully. Together with Betty Fox who also taught dancing, she started her own company. This company would supply groups of trained dancers to various shows.
It was an unfortunate back injury that prevented Shelagh from continuing her career as a dancer, but her dedication to the stage found her choreographing the shows she had previously danced in, very successfully. Together with Betty Fox who also taught dancing, she started her own company. This company would supply groups of trained dancers to various shows.
Eventually her path led her back to South Africa, and a few years after returning, Shelagh joined Brian Brooke of the Brian Brooke Theatre Company where she was his P.A. after doing a bookkeeping course in ‘8 easy lessons”, until 1997 a period of 22 years. These must have been very exciting and entertaining years to be at the heart of South African theatre. Shelagh remembers how Brian Brooke would line up the entire cast of the stage show ‘ IPI Tombi’ for their flu injections in the winter.
It was good fortune for Aberdeen that brought Shelagh here 10 years ago. She stayed at the Homestead on her way back to Johannesburg, where the owners persuaded her that Aberdeen was just the town to retire in. Shelagh has never really retired; she has attempted to give all of her knowledge and expertise to the communities of Aberdeen Town, Lotusville and Thembalesizwe, through the teaching of ballet, tap dancing and now ballroom dancing .Shelagh started a Community Centre where dancing was taught to help alleviate the effects of poverty in the area. The group of dancers, known as the Thembalo Children’s Theatre Group, were invited to perform at the Grahamstown Festival.
Shelagh has given generously of her time over the years, and has provided lessons and all the ballet and tap shoes at no cost to the parents for the children. Her pupils have performed at Woman’s Day in Aberdeen and Heritage Day in Nieu-Bethesda. Shelagh continues to give exercises to the residents at the Old Age Home twice a week and stretching exercises to the Ladies of Aberdeen in the Primary School Hall.Shelagh is a shining light in Aberdeen Town, Lotusville and Tembalesizwe, and is a magnificent example of a life fulfilled by giving. After spending such a colourful inspiring trip down memory lane with Sheligh, I am attempting to persuade her to write her memoirs through these albums bursting with dedication, achievement and a life well spent.
Article By Joan Tinker
