'SHE CONQUERED WHO SHE WANTED TO BE' PRINCESS DIANA IN A MOVING NEW MEMOIR, DANCE INSTRUCTOR ANNE ALLAN REVEALS BEAUTIFUL NEW STORIES

Imagine you’re settling in for a cozy night at home when the phone rings and the voice on the other end says, “Hello, this is Anne Beckwith-Smith, lady-in-waiting to the Princess of Wales.

- AMY BIELBY

The princess would like to take dancing classes.”

That’s exactly what happened to Anne Allan, who was teaching with Britain’s London City Ballet when she received the fateful call from Kensington Palace back in 1981.

Born in Glasgow (but now a Torontonian), Anne had an impressive resumé behind her as a ballet mistress, and there was no questioning her skills. She did, however, have doubts about the legitimacy of the call.

“I had just put my daughter down for bed when the phone went. And I actually just thought it was a friend being funny. But there was also something in the back of my mind that made me pay attention, just in case.”

Luckily, Anne listened to that voice inside her head and, a week later, she found herself meeting Diana at a private studio. It would be the beginning of a nine-year collaboration.

Now, for the first time, Anne is sharing the story of their friendship in a memoir, Dancing with Diana. In an exclusive chat with Hello! Canada, the late Princess of Wales’s former teacher talks ballet, tea parties and what to wear under your leotard.

That was quite the call to receive! After you agreed to instruct Princess Diana, how did you feel? I think my stomach kind of turned over because this is not just an ordinary person that you’re teaching. She had just gotten married [to thenPrince Charles]. These were the very early days. Nobody knew a lot about her. I just knew that she did love dance.