Olga Fricker, who died on November 20, 1997, played a major role in the struggle to raise the standard of classical ballet teaching in the U.S.A. Born in Canada on July 19, 1902, she started her training in Toronto with Amy Sternberg before moving to the United States in the 1920's. In Detroit Miss Fricker worked with Victoria Cassan, who had been with the Pavlova Company during Enrico Cecchetti's tenure. Later, in the 1930's, Miss Fricker took over the School of Dance at the Civic Theatre and also developed the highly successful Concert Group which performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under Victor Kolar.

Several teachers in the Detroit area then became interested in learning more about the Cecchetti method and on Cyril Beaumont's recommendation, Kate Forbes (then teaching at Vassar University) agreed to coach them. Out of this grew the Cecchetti Council of America, of which Olga Fricker was a Charter Member.

The 1940's were busy years, with Miss Fricker continuing the performances of the Concert Group as well as studying for the final Qualifying Examinations of the Cecchetti Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (I.S.T.D.), London. In the early 1950's she established her own school in Detroit and was then commissioned by the City to stage two huge extravaganzas, "City of Freedom" and "Light Up The Land."

In the mid-fifties Olga Fricker settled in Los Angeles where she opened her excellent school on Olympic Boulevard. Among the many fine dancers trained there was Jennet Zerbe, who was later to be chosen to dance the role of Odette at a Royal Ballet School matinee at Covent Garden, before going on to become a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. From her Los Angeles base, Miss Fricker started the first West Coast Cecchetti Summer School; the Cecchetti Ballet Company of student dancers; the Apprentice Group of young semi-professionals; and finally the California Festival Ballet Company.

Olga Fricker's most lasting contribution to the raising of teaching standards in the United States came in 1971 when, together with Lucille McClure and Shiela Darby, she founded the now flourishing Cecchetti Society, Inc. USA, which is directly linked to the using of the same syllabi as the Cecchetti Society Branch of the I.S.T.D.

The Olga Fricker Scholarship Fund has been established, to help young teachers studying for their Licentiate and Fellowship qualifications. The fund will be a fitting tribute to Miss Fricker, for she was always ready to give time and knowledge to help the young attain goals they had set for themselves. She inspired us to do more than we thought possible.