Fonds - Frieda Shaw fonds

Frieda Marie Shaw (nee Richter) (1897-1985) was born in Loomis, Washington and attended St. Anns Academy in Victoria, B.C. and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts before going to San Francisco. She joining a concert group which toured Central America and after becoming ill she returned to her parents home in the Similkameen Valley. She married Norman Shaw (18991972) and moved to Powell River in 1931 because Norman had found employment at the Powell River Company pulp and paper mill. Their only child, Carmen, was born in Powell River. Frieda started a dance studio in the family home basement on 4523 Harvie Street in Westview. In 1933, her first year of teaching, 26 students enrolled. Various recitals were held at Dwight Hall with the 1942 one being held to aid local war relief funds. Three of her students went on to much acclaim. Anna (stage name Onna) White, (1926 2007) won an Oscar in 1969 for her choreography in the musical Oliver!, Joyce Gray (nee Hill) was a founding member of the National Ballet Company of Canada and Norman Thompson (1920196?), danced with the San Francisco Ballet Company, Sadlers Wells, New Yorks Ballet Theatre amongst other companies. Mrs. Shaw continued to teach until 1948 and continued her career upon occasion as an adjudicator for the British Columbia Festival.