Australian ‘national treasure’ dies just days after milestone birthday
Acclaimed Sydney dancer and national treasure Eileen Kramer has passed away just days after her 110th birthday.
The artist, dancer, choreographer and author passed away peacefully on Friday.
Ms Kramer was a pioneer of Australian dance during a career that spanned four continents and brought her into contact with some of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
“Eileen was a pioneer and a true creative spirit,” her management said in a statement.
“She will be dearly missed by those who knew her and by those around the world who were inspired by her.
“She is the last dancer of the Bodenwieser era, she was the longest living woman in NSW and most likely the longest living dancer internationally.”
Ms. Kramer was a founding member of the Bodenwieser Ballet in her twenties, which led to her touring Australia and the world.
She worked abroad for sixty years, in Paris, London, New York and India.
Acclaimed Sydney dancer and national treasure Eileen Kramer (pictured) passed away on Friday
Eileen is pictured surrounded by her family and friends on her 109th birthday last year
Mrs Kramer died just days after her 110th birthday, which she celebrated in Sydney
She met Ella Fitzgerald and learned the twist from Louis Armstrong.
Ms Kramer returned to her native Sydney in 2013 at the age of 99 and said she “missed the kookaburras and the smell of gum trees”.
In 2017, she was appointed ambassador of the Arts Health Institute, which described her as a “national treasure.”
And even after blowing out the candles on her 100th birthday cake, she continued to work: making short films, choreographing and performing on stage.
She wrote several books about her life, including her first memoir Walkabout Dancer in 2008 and Life Keeps Me Dancing last year.
