King, guest speaker at Friends of Dance event

King will show slides as he talks about his life in the ballet and performing arts world, both in South Africa and abroad, and shares anecdotes about some of the remarkable people he got to know through it. He'll share delightful stories about princess Diana, whom he persuaded to become the Royal Patron of The London City Ballet (LCB), of which he was founding artistic director, and will talk about the work he did with Dame Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev and a host of other famous ballet icons.

Queen's garden parties

He will describe how, in his travels abroad with LCB, he met many royals and found himself in astonishing and marvellous situations. King knew the queen mother's butler, William Tallon, and the queen's garden parties at Buckingham Palace will also come into his talk, as do his descriptions of Dame Shirley Bassey, Elaine Paige, Joanna Lumley and Sir Paul McCartney.

Resulting from his friendship with Phyllis Spira and Philip Boyd, King has given special support to DFA, choreographing for the students and helping with fundraising. In 2004, as chief trustee of The David Blair Memorial Trust, he awarded a scholarship to DFA student Mbulelo Ndabeni to study at The London Studio Centre. Mbulelo has gone on to join the Rambert Dance Company, a great feather in DFA's cap.

After King's talk DFA students will present a cameo performance. Entry is free for members and R50 for non-members. For further info, go to www.danceforall.co.za.