The Australian Women's Register

Ruth Vergner was born in Vienna, however she lived in Poland from the age of six. In 1933 Ruth was awarded a scholarship to dance with Tacjanna Wysocka’s Dance Company and she was selected to go on tour with them to Italy. Ruth migrated to Melbourne in 1936 and three years later she joined the Elizabeth Wiener Modern Dance Studio. After taking a Kthakali dance class with Indian dancer Shivaram, Ruth joined him on a world tour.

Ruth returned to Melbourne in 1951 and began teaching and performing at the Ballet Guild. During the 1960s she travelled and performed again with Shivaram before returning to Sydney to once again teach and perform. In 1974 Ruth performed with Shivaram at Monash University and later she opened her own dance studio at the Savoy Theatre in Melbourne.