BARBARA LEES-MARGIOTTA – SEPTEMBER 6, 1944 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
THE final curtain has drawn for Mount Gambier’s matriarch of theatre and dance Barbara Lees-Margiotta, OAM, who died last month.
Ms Lees-Margiotta died on September 14, aged 75, leaving a lasting legacy in Mount Gambier.
The talented dancer, theatre producer, actress, costume designer and dance teacher has been an instrumental identity in the city’s performing arts fraternity.
An esteemed ballet teacher, Ms Lees-Margiotta produced more than 60 debutante balls and was a founding member of the Mount Gambier Old Time and Rock and Roll dance clubs.
Hundreds of people paid tribute to Ms Lees-Margiotta at a public farewell at St Paul’s Catholic Church with many mourners wearing bright clothing and feather boas to mark her vibrant life and love of the performing arts.
Her daughter Nicki Lees – speaking on behalf the family including Ms Lees-Margiotta’s husband Gino, daughter Cindy and grandson Max – described her much-loved mother as “way ahead of her times” and incredible mother and nonna.
“She was my best friend and Max’s other parent – we miss her everyday,” Ms Lees said.
Over her 50-plus year association with the arts, Ms Lees-Margiotta touched the lives of hundreds of aspiring performers.
Dreaming of dancing in the movies and the great stages of the world as a youngster, Ms Lees-Margiotta performed in musicals and danced on fledging television shows, including some on Channel 8 Mount Gambier.
After marrying, Ms Lees-Margiotta opened her own dance school in Mount Gambier.
The talented performer and theatre producer was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal in 2010 after pouring her “heart and soul” into the dance and theatre sectors.
During her medal presentation, an excited Ms Lees-Margiotta mingled with Prince Charles and Camilla at Government House.
In fact, she offered to make the royal couple a “cup of tea” after an informal chat in the picturesque gardens.
Ms Lees-Margiotta’s passion for performing arts was triggered by her father, who played the piano and her mother who danced in competitions.
Her first performance on stage was when she was just four years old, sparking a life-long journey in the arts.
“I would often sleep under the chair in halls as my mother danced,” Ms Lees-Margiotta told The Border Watch when she received her OAM.
“I have a vivid memory of my first performance on stage when I was four – I knew at that moment performing arts would be my life.”
Holding a licentiate associate for teaching ballet, she was the fourth highest qualified dance teacher in Australia and had 13 letters after her name with the London Academy of Dance.
The well-known Mount Gambier resident was also given the task as artistic director for the Mayoral Gala Performance.
As a testament to her high standing in the community, Ms Lees-Margiotta was also given the honour of dressing the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre to accommodate the first sitting of State Parliament in Mount Gambier in May 2005.
In a fitting tribute, her set was then used for other country-staged parliament sittings.
She undertook a tremendous amount of work to ensure the theatre not only echoed the pride of the Mount Gambier community, but was fitting for such an important and historic event.
Ms Lees-Margiotta will also be fondly remembered for her series of concerts featuring her students, including a run called Syncopated Fantasy, which included rock ballets to productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar.
The series were choreographed by Ms Lees-Margiotta and were months in the making, growing in popularity and boasting sold out shows at the King’s Theatre for up to six performances.
Ms Lees-Margiotta’s commitment to the community also extended to other organisations.
She was a much-loved member of Mount Gambier Italo-Australia Club family, which has its home at Casadio Park.
Ms Lees-Margiotta was also a committee member of the Back to Mount Gambier celebrations and East Gambier Football Club secretary for eight years.
Over her colourful career, she produced 31 stage shows, created 10
new ballet performances and was responsible for producing one of these for the Adelaide Festival of the Arts in 1978.
She also received a Centenary Medal for her community work in 2001.
However, her greatest achievement was her family, notably the birth of her grandson Max Oliver-Lees.
She doted on him given he was the only blood continuation of her legacy.
