Eileen Keegan was a South African ballet dancer and teacher. She initially trained in South Africa under Madge Mann and Nancy Hooper, before moving to London in 1932 to continue her training. She toured Europe with Molly Lake's company and went on a global tour with Dandre's Ballet Company. She qualified as a Cecchetti examiner after being examined by Cyril Beaumont. In 1936 she returned to South Africa to teach. She ran her own studio, with Dorothea McNair, opposite the old Theatre Royal in Durban

Durban

Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

 before moving to Kloof. She taught in her private studio for over 50 years. She gave recitals in the Durban City Hall and in 1939 presented the first locally-produced season of ballet in the city. In 1940 she formed Durban's highly-successful Ballet Club, which was based on the concept of the club begun by Dulcie Howes

Dulcie Howes

Dulcie Howes was a South African ballet dancer, considered the prima ballerina assoluta, in her time, of South African ballet. She was born in Mossel Bay, near Cape Town....

 in Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

. Her notable pupils include: Nadia Nerina

Nadia Nerina

Nadia Nerina was a South African ballerina. She moved to England and joined the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, where she became a prima ballerina at the age of 25. She was one of the first western dancers to appear with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow during the Cold War...

, Michael Maule, Joy Shearer, Colleen Scott, and Judy Gale-Brown. She died at her home on 22 October 2000.