soon after beginning his studies in london, poole was invited to join the sadler's wells theater ballet, where he was promoted to principal dancer in 1948. he enjoyed quick recognition by both fans and the press, winning praise particularly for his performances as pierrot in fokine's merry romp "le carnaval" and in de valois's gloomy and ghostly depiction of "the haunted ballroom." he transferred to the sadler's wells ballet at covent garden in 1955, but he left the company (renamed the royal ballet) in 1956 to dance with ballet rambert, where he appeared in such classic works as "giselle, coppélia," and "swan lake." during the first six months of 1957, he took leave from the stage to teach ballet technique at kurt jooss's folkwang schule in essen, germany, after which he returned to britain and resumed his performing career, appearing with notable success at the edinburgh festival in 1958. during his twelve years dancing in great britain, he performed in numerous new works choreographed by de valois, cranko, frederick ashton, andrée howard, walter gore, kenneth macmillan, alfred rodrigues, and others.