Dublin born Anne Maher has over thirty years’ experience in ballet, first as a dancer and later as a director, manager and 

co-founder of The National Ballet of Ireland – Ballet Ireland.

Anne first started ballet at the age of 5 with Myrtle Lambkin in Dublin under whose guidance she studied until she was 16. She then moved to Cork to continue her training with the then Irish Ballet Company. There she spent a year training, dancing and also teaching for Joan Denise Moriarty at her school. The offer of a contract with the Dublin City Ballet under the directorship of Janet Lewis brought her back to Dublin. Here she danced in a variety of productions and also had the opportunity of working with the late Anton Dolin and John Gilpin in their acclaimed production of Giselle.

Another highlight of her time with Dublin City was her appearance in the 1980 Irish production of the Eurovision Song Contest. During this time her former teacher Myrtle Lambkin secured a scholarship on her behalf from the late Princess Grace of Monaco to study at L’Acadamie de Danse Classique in Monte Carlo under Marika Besobrasova.

After completion of her training in Monte Carlo she moved to London to accept a contract with British Ballet Theatre. She remained in London for 3 years during which time she also appeared in pantomime, videos and films. In 1986 she moved to Europe to join Wiener Ballett Theater. In 1987 she was promoted to Principal Ballerina. Her roles include Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Queen of the Willis (Giselle), and a range of various modern works.

In 1997 Anne returned to Ireland to set up and develop Ballet Ireland into a successful and vibrant touring company. She is chairperson of Irish Ballet Forum (IBF), an organisation established to bring together the ballet community in Ireland and to help ensure better training for aspiring young dancers in Ireland. Anne see’s this organisation as key to the future of ballet in Ireland.

Anne has been on the board of Dance Ireland since 2008.