besides these original works, poole enriched the company repertory with new productions of classic ballets, including "giselle, le corsaire, coppélia", and "swan lake". not only an accomplished choreographer and a visionary company director, he was a superb teacher of classical technique, mime, and stagecraft, raising the levels of performance and training in the company to a significant degree. in 1974, upon the retirement of dulcie howes, he was appointed principal of the uct ballet school. he also served as professor of ballet until 1986 and as director of the company until his retirement in 1990.