She then danced for Colonel de Basil's Ballets Russes but left when her mother refused permission for her to tour with the company in South America.

[4] In 1945, she moved to Hollywood where appeared in films including Limelight, Anything Goes and Silk Stockings; and was the dance double for Leslie Caron in Gigi, Gaby and An American in Paris.

[4] Zali became an instructor at the Los Angeles dance studios of Adolph Bolm and then Michel Panaieff, where one of her students was young Cynthia Gregory.

After choosing a successor, Zali continued as the company's artistic advisor and taught classes until her death at the age of 84.

[7] In 1945, Zali married the cellist, Nicholas "Kolia" Levienne, who founded the Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society.