Australia Dancing - West Australian Ballet (1952

West Australian Ballet (1952 - )

Green, Jon: Nicola Wade and Connor Dowling in Ted Brandsen's 'Pulcinella', West Australian Ballet, 2003

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West Australian Ballet was founded by former Ballets Russes dancer Kira Bousloff in 1952. Growing out of a meeting of Perth-based ballet teachers, it began operations as an amateur company. It first received government funding in 1969 at which time Bousloff handed over the directorship to Rex Reid. Reid directed the company until 1973 and during his directorship it became fully professional (1970). Directors since then have been Luis Moreno (1973-1977), Robin Haig (1977-1979), Garth Welch (1979-1983), Barry Moreland (1983-1997), Bill Pengelly (artistic manager 1998), Ted Brandsen (1998-2001), Judy Maelor-Thomas (acting 2002) Simon Dow (2003- 2007) and Ivan Cavallari (2007-).

Each director has brought his or her individual vision to the company but from its beginnings West Australian Ballet fostered the work of Australian artists. In particular, many of Bousloff's early ballets were made to commissioned scores by composer James Penberthy. Barry Moreland was also a great advocate of Australian design and constantly commissioned Australian visual artists, including Charles Blackman and Robert Juniper, to design sets and costumes. Ted Brandsen commissioned new works from many Australian choreographers including Stephen Baynes, Adrian Burnett, Gideon Obarzanek, Stephen Page and Natalie Weir. Other choreographers who have worked consistently with West Australian Ballet include Jacqui Carroll, Chrissie Parrott and Garth Welch.

Community dance programmes offered by the company include 'Chance to Dance', reaching the youngest audiences through selected primary schools, 'Jumpstart', an initiative which invites young disadvantaged people to attend dress rehearsal performances, and the 'Young Artists Programme' which provides a springboard for talented young adults.Bibliography:

West Australian Ballet's repertoire from 1981 to 1994 is listed in The Ausdance Guide to Australian Dance Companies 1994 (Canberra: AGPS, 1994), pp. 275-283. Brolga No. 16 (June 2002) is a special issue devoted to the history of the company and contains several articles on different aspects of the company's operations.

Research Materials

Afternoon of a Faun , 1985 (Moving picture): Choreography: Barry Moreland; Music: Claude Debussy, Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune; Cast: Ronnie Van den Bergh, Geraldine Lett, Michelle Martin, Donna Mathews; One-inch videotape, filmed for West Australian Ballet by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; colour, sound, PAL, 25 mins (two takes); Moreland's interpretation of a piece originally choreographed by Nijinsky in 1912 for Diaghilev's Ballet Russe.; Moreland, Barry; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 388587

Gaica, Branco: Alfred Williams of Sydney Dance Company, Ronnie van den Bergh of West Australian Ballet, Csaba Buday of Australian Dance Theatre and Robert Canning of the Queensland Ballet during rehearsals for Graeme Murphy's 'Vast', 1988

Gaica, Branco: Alfred Williams of Sydney Dance Company, Ronnie van den Bergh of West Australian Ballet, Csaba Buday of Australian Dance Theatre and Robert Canning of the Queensland Ballet during rehearsals for Graeme Murphy's 'Vast', 1988 (Picture): Murphy, Graeme ; Vast ; Sydney Dance Company ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Queensland Ballet, The; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8820/2
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Penberthy, James: Beach inspector and the mermaid : musical score, 1958(?) (Printed music): For orchestra. Title from caption. Stamped: James Penberthy on p. 1. Manuscript paper is sewn together, and stuck into brown paper covered boards. The ballet The beach inspector and the mermaid was composed for the West Australian Ballet (founded by former Ballets Russes dancer Kira Bousloff) and performed by them in 1958. Includes performance markings. This score is available for viewing online.; Penberthy, James ; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 9748, Series 12, Piece 36
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The Beach Inspector and the Mermaid, 1962 (Moving picture): Choreography: Kira Bousloff; Music: James Penberthy; Cast: Alec Gilchrist, Diane de Vos, Lesley Hanson, artists of West Australian Ballet and members of the Floreat Life Saving Club; 16 mm film, produced for ABW, Perth; black and white, sound, 30 mins; A ballet about the rescue of a mermaid by members of a surf life saving club. First produced for West Australian Ballet in 1958.; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova ; Penberthy, James; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 404251

de Prazer, Ashley: Benazir Hussain in the title role of Ted Brandsen's 'Carmen', West Australian Ballet, 1999

de Prazer, Ashley: Benazir Hussain in the title role of Ted Brandsen's 'Carmen', West Australian Ballet, 1999 (Picture): Brandsen, Ted ; Hussain, Benazir; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8792/8
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Green, Jon: Benazir Hussain, West Australian Ballet, 2002

Green, Jon: Benazir Hussain, West Australian Ballet, 2002 (Picture): Hussain, Benazir; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/5
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Green, Jon: Benazir Hussain, West Australian Ballet, 2004

Green, Jon: Benazir Hussain, West Australian Ballet, 2004 (Picture): Hussain, Benazir; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/4
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[Bournonvilliana], 1971 (Moving picture): Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; J-format videotape; black and white, sound, PAL, 42 mins; A studio rehearsal of Bournonvilliana, a work choreographed by Poul Gnatt comprising excerpts from August Bournonville's Napoli and Flower Festival at Genzano. This footage also contains excerpts from a rehearsal of an unidentified ballet, perhaps Kongismark by Garth Welch who appears at various stages demonstrating the choreography.; Welch, Garth ; Gnatt, Poul; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 438671

Green, Jon: Callum Hastie, West Australian Ballet, 2004

Green, Jon: Callum Hastie, West Australian Ballet, 2004 (Picture): Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/6 LOC nla.pic-vn3101857 Online access
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Green, Jon: Emiliana Lione, West Australian Ballet, 2004

Green, Jon: Emiliana Lione, West Australian Ballet, 2004 (Picture): Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/8 LOC nla.pic-vn3101887 Online access
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Penberthy, James: The fire at Ross's farm (ballet suite): musical score, 1961 (Printed music): For orchestra. Title from cover. Dedication: "To Tamara". Manuscript paper is enclosed in brown paper cover. Ballet composed for the West Australian Ballet (founded by former Ballets Russes dancer Kira Bousloff) and performed in 1961. Based on the poem by Henry Lawson. Includes performance markings. Part of the collection: Penberthy, James, 1917-1999. Papers of James Penberthy. Digital master available; National Library of Australia, Manuscripts collection; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova ; Penberthy, James; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 9748, Series 12, Piece 24
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Stringer, Walter: Ross Philip and Gaye Sinclair in Garth Welch's 'Images', Ballet Victoria, 1974

[Images], 1982 (Moving picture): Choreography: Garth Welch; Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff; Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; U-matic videotape (poor vision and sound quality); sound, colour, PAL, 27 mins; Images, an abstract ballet, was originally created by Garth Welch for Ballet Victoria and was given its first performance by that company in 1974. It was revived by Welch for West Australian Ballet during his term as artistic director of that company.; Welch, Garth ; Ballet Victoria; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 427973

In Repertoire: a guide to Australian contemporary dance - archived , 2004 (Website): This guide to Australian contemporary dance (Authors: Virginia Baxter, Keith Gallasch) was archived on 27 May 2004. This guide introduces a wide range of Australian contemporary dance works. The overview essay provides an introduction to the history and context of Australian contemporary dance and a brief introduction to Australian dance on film and video. Profiles: Bonemap- The Bridge Song; Fiona Cameron- Inhabited; Australian Dance Theatre- The Age of Unbeauty; The Fondue Set- Blue Moves; Queensland Ballet- Double Take; Lucy Guerin Inc.- Melt/The Ends of Things; Tony Yap, Yumi Umiumare- How could you even begin to understand?; Yumi Umiumare- Tokyo DasSHOKU Girl; Chunky Move- Tense Dave; Branch Nebula- Sentimental Reason; Tracks Inc.- Janganpa; Kay Armstrong- Rara Avis; Force Majeure/Kate Champion- Same, same But Different; Rosalind Crisp- raft/tread; BalletLab- Amplification; Clare Dyson- Intimate Drowning; One Extra Company Ltd- Oysterland; Bangarra Dance Theatre Company- Bush; company in space- CO3; Kage Physical Theatre- Nowhere Man; Dean Walsh- Flesh: Memo; Helen Herbertson & Ben Cobham- Morphia Series; Dance Works- Murray-Anderson Road; Igneous- Body in Question; Bernadette Walong- Savage Burn; Gravity Feed- Host; Paul Gazzola- Bird Talk #1-7; Chapel of Change- Tearoom; Tess de Quincey- Nerve 9; Julie-Anne Long- MissXL; Expressions Dance Company- Virtually Richard3; Dance North- Double Thrill; SHOTT dance theatre- The Morning After, the Night Before; Christos Linou- Amphibitos: a militant dance ritual; Delia Silvan- Night Vision; Sue Healey Company- Fine Line Terrain; skadada- Electroninc Big Top; Shelley Lasica- History Situation; Sydney Dance Company- Ellipse; Restless Dance Company- Starry Eyed; Fiona Malone- The Obcell; Helen Omand and Co.- Up Front and Naked; Ros Warby- Swift; TasDance- Fair Game; Paul O'Sullivan- Shopping Fashion Travel...and Genocide!; Sue Peacock- Tempting Fate; Walton et al- No hope no reason; Lisa O'Neill- Fugu San; Trevor Patrick- Cinnabar Field; Stompin Youth Dance Co.- SYNC; STEPS Youth Dance Company- Edge Test; Nalina Wait- sole; Buzz Dance Theatre- Fracture; West Australian Ballet- Scorched; Gerard Van Dyck- The Collapsible Man; softcore inc- Private Dancer; Leigh Warren + Dancers- Quick Brown Fox; Essays:; Australian contemporary dance: an introduction; Dance screen in Australia; Principle funding credits; Photography credits.; Dyson, Clare ; de Quincey, Tess ; Peacock, Sue ; Warby, Ros ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Queensland Ballet, The ; Lucy Guerin Inc. ; Chunky Move ; Champion, Kate ; BalletLab ; One Extra Dance ; Bangarra Dance Theatre ; Kage Physical Theatre ; Herbertson, Helen ; Dance Works ; Igneous ; Expressions Dance Company ; Dance North ; Healey, Sue ; Sydney Dance Company ; Restless Dance Theatre ; Malone, Fiona ; TasDance ; Buzz Dance Theatre ; Leigh Warren and Dancers; Location:; Online; Archived as: http://nla.gov.au/nla.arc-42100

Interview with Barry Moreland, 1990 (Oral history): Interviewee: Moreland, Barry; Interviewer: Shirley McKechnie; Audiotape; 190 mins; Barry Moreland considers his career in dance and the theatre across a broad time frame although he focuses especially on his years as director of West Australian Ballet. Throughout the interview Moreland explains his approach to choreography and refers to a number of specific pieces including Summer Solstice, Prodigal Son in Ragtime, Dialogues, Lady of the Camellias and Afternoon of a Faun. He also pays particular attention to his attitude to collaboration across the arts and reflects on the nature of dance and dancers in Australia. Edited extracts from this interview have been published as 'Brief thoughts: from an interview recorded in Perth in 1990' in Brolga 16 (June 2002), pp. 45-48.; Moreland, Barry; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 2642
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Interview with Edmund Stripe, 1999 (Oral history): Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Interviewee: Stripe, Edmund; Audiotape, 72 mins; Edumund Stripe discusses his early choreography including his approach to the choreographic process, the sources of his inspiration, what drives him to choreograph and some of the choreographers he admires. He also talks about his early dance training and his professional dance career before his move to Australia. He continues with his early impressions of Australia and West Australian Ballet and considers his role as ballet master and the Cecchetti system of ballet training.; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Oral History Project; National Library of Australia; TRC 3828
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Interview with Garth Welch, 1990 (Oral history): Interviewee: Welch, Garth; Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Audiotape; 180 mins; In this interview Welch considers his career as a dancer, beginning with his early training, and as a choreographer, artistic director and teacher. In particular, Welch discusses his long career with the Borovansky Ballet, and the Australian Ballet and his associations with Ballet Victoria, West Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company. He also touches on his time in the United States as the recipient of a Harkness Fellowship, which led to the creation of Othello, and gives his thoughts on the state of dance in Australia at the beginning of the 1990s.; Welch, Garth ; Borovansky Ballet ; Australian Ballet, The ; Ballet Victoria ; Sydney Dance Company; Location:; The Esso Performing Arts and Oral History Archive Project; National Library of Australia; TRC 2545
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Interview with Kathryn Lowe-Henricks, 1991 (Oral history): Interviewer: Shirley McKechnie; Interviewee: Lowe-Henricks, Kathryn; Audiotape; 360 mins; Kathryn Lowe-Henricks begins by talking about her academic, social, environmental, and parental influences as she was growing up in California. She goes on to talk about her early dance training with Bronislava Nijinska, Mia Slavenska, Tatiana Riabouchinska, and David Lichine. She then speaks about her performance and teaching background.

Lowe-Henricks continues by talking about moving to Australia and provides biographical information about the Queensland teacher Ann Roberts. She then discusses her employment as the dance officer of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, referring to the demise of Ballet Victoria, a review into West Australian Ballet, Algeranoff and the Mildura-based North West Victoria Ballet Society and their funding from the Australia Council, and her involvement in the establishment of TasDance. Lowe-Henricks then discusses the establishment of Don Asker?s Human Veins Dance Theatre and the Australia Council?s Rotherwood project to establish a long-term plan for dance development. She also speaks about the Australia Council-convened 1991 Dance Summit, and closes by discussing her perceptions of the future development of the professional dance industry in Australia.; Ballet Victoria ; Lowe-Henricks, Kathryn ; Riabouchinska, Tatiana ; Lichine, David ; Algeranoff ; TasDance ; Asker, Don ; Human Veins Dance Theatre; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 2679
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Seymour, Maurice: Kira Abricossova (Bousloff) in 'Symphonie fantastique', Ballets Russes, c. 1936 (photo inscribed in Melbourne, 1939)

Interview with Kira Bousloff, 1990

Interview with Kira Bousloff, 1990 (Oral history): Interviewee: Bousloff, Kira; Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Audiotape, 210 mins; Kira Abricossova Bousloff speaks about her career as a dancer with de Basil's Ballets Russes companies in England, the United States and Australia. She talks about repertoire and her fellow dancers and focuses on her arrival in Australia with the Covent Garden Russian Ballet in 1938 and her reasons for staying at the conclusion of that tour. The interview also deals with Bousloff's family background and early dance training in Paris and her work in Perth establishing West Australian Ballet.; Ballets Russes Australian tours ; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova; Location:; Esso Performing Arts and Oral History Archive Project; National Library of Australia; TRC 2627
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Interview with Kiril Vassilkovsky, 2006 (Oral history): Interviewer: Bill Stephens; Interviewee: Vassilkovsky, Kiril; Audiotape; Kiril Vassilkovsky born 1919, in Latvia, talks about his family background; his childhood in Latvia; childhood in England where his family moved when he was four years of age; his early involvement in ballet; being taught by Marie Rambert and Igor Schwezoff; financial arrangements and dancing for Igor Schwezoff; auditioning for Col. De Basil; being engaged by De Basil to tour Australia for the 1939/40 tour by Ballet Russes; rehearsals on the ship to Australia; Serge Lifar; David Lichine; dancing the role of the Drummer in Graduation Ball with the Borovansky Ballet; the dancers who made up the original Ballet Russes; first impressions of Australia; the Sydney Season and a trip to The Blue Mountains; accommodation in Sydney; Serge Grigoriev; social and working life for Ballet Russes; the 'baby' ballerinas; the salary; touring the U.S.A for Sol Hurok; being stranded in Cuba; reforming the company in Cuba; six years touring South and Central America; maintaining performance standards on tour; his bid for American citizenship working as a free-lance dancer; rejoining the Ballet Russes for its second European tour. Vassilkovsky discusses the Original Ballet Russe tour of England, following the death of De Basil in 1950; the condition of the costumes and sets at this time; life after the Ballets Russes; working in the Marquis de Cuevas Ballet; working as assistant to Bronislava Nijinska; Edouard Borovansky; developing the ability to reproduce ballets; accepting Borovansky's invitation to join his ballet company as co-repetiteur; his responsibilities as co-repetiteur and co-artistic director; the standard of the Borovansky dancers; advice from Borovansky; recommencing with the Borovansky Ballet as a soloist; choreographing Candide; dancing with Kathleen Gorham; the attraction of choreography; life after the Borovansky Ballet; an invitation to work as a teacher with the West Australian Ballet; the impact of Rex Reid as artistic director of the West Australian Ballet; an invitation from Luis Moreno to choreograph; teaching; reflects on his accomplishments; his London encore of the role of the Drummer in Graduation Ball; life in the Borovansky Ballet compared to life in the Ballet Russes.; Vassilkovsky, Kiril ; de Basil, Wassily ; Ballets Russes Australian tours ; Lichine, David ; Graduation Ball ; Borovansky Ballet ; Grigoriev, Serge ; Borovansky, Edouard ; Gorham, Kathleen ; Lifar, Serge ; Reid, Rex; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 5704
nla.cat-vn3791501; Access open for research, written permission is required for personal copies and public use for 10 years from the date of the interview.

Interview with Marina Berezowsky, 1998 (Oral history): Interviewee: Berezowsky, Marina; Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Audiotape, 260 mins; Berezowsky talks about her parents, her recollections of childhood in Kiev, her early interest in dance, the start of her career in ballet, the effects of the Russian Revolution on arts in Kiev, studying at the Film and Arts Institute in Kiev and meeting her husband. She then discusses social realism in arts, her brother?s career as a stage designer, profesional engagements in musical comedy, the problems encountered by her family under the Soviet regime, leaving Kiev for Berlin and creating concert programs there. Berezowsky then describes her escape to Hamburg, internment in Hamburg, her escape from repatriation, the beginnings of a teaching career, choreography in the POW camp and coming to Australia. She then talks about teaching, dancing and choreographing in Perth, formation of the West Australian Ballet and her productions for the company. Berezowsky discusses moving to Melbourne, teaching with Borovansky, the beginnings of the Australian Ballet and the Australian Ballet School and her Ukrainian dance group. She talks about the establishment and development of Kolobok Dance Company, her trip to Europe and America, production and choreography of folk dance, leaving Australian Ballet School and her contribution to dance in Australia.; Kolobok Dance Company ; Berezowsky, Marina ; Borovansky Ballet; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Oral History Project; National Library of Australia; TRC 3691
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Interview with Robin Haig, 2002 (Oral history): Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Interviewee: Haig, Robin; Audiotape; 170 mins; Robin Haig speaks at length about her directorship of West Australian Ballet including the idea of establishing a school associated with the company, her approach to directorship and some of the initiatives she pursued and would have liked to have pursued as director. She also discusses her early career in musical and variety shows and with Australian Theatre Ballet, her work with the Royal Ballet and the Australian Ballet and her career in the United States as a lecturer in dance.; Australian Ballet, The ; Australian Theatre Ballet; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 4836
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Interview with Steven Heathcote, 2003 (Oral history): Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Interviewee: Heathcote, Steven; Audiotape; 230 mins; Steven Heathcote begins this interview with a discussion of his family background, his education and his early dance training in Perth with Kira Bousloff and Shelly Rae. He recounts some anecdotes about first seeing Rudolf Nureyev and discusses his student scholarship with West Australian Ballet and his work with Sian Stokes. He goes on to talk about moving to Melbourne to join the Australian Ballet School, his friendship with Paul Mercurio and his teachers and his fellow students, including teacher Bruce Morrow and student colleague David McAllister.

Heathcote then turns to his career with the Australian Ballet and discusses some of his early roles including those in Spartacus, Beyond Twelve, Equus and Romeo and Juliet and gives his opinion of the importance of the Australian Ballet's John Cranko repertoire. He talks at length about the nature of the Australian Ballet under the directorship of Maina Gielgud and also records his impressions of Anne Woolliams. The Australian Ballet's international tours are analysed, especially the Bicentennial tour to Russia, London and Greece, and the company's several tours to Asia and New York. There is also some discussion of the need for the Australian Ballet to tour.

Heathcote continues by talking about his guest appearance with American Ballet Theatre and in Cuba and spends some time talking about being coached by Gelsey Kirkaland while with American Ballet Theatre. Some of the choreographers in whose works he has performed and whom he talks about throughout the interview include Graeme Murphy, Stephen Page (including his role in Page's Alchemy), Stanton Welch, Natalie Weir and Jiri Kylian. He also discusses his own interest in choreography, talks briefly about coaching and teaching and discusses the differences in the company while it was under the directorship of Ross Stretton and as it is under David McAllister.

This interview was recorded at the end of Heathcote's twentieth year as a dancer with the Australian Ballet and the contents of the interview reflect the breadth and depth of Heathcote's experience and knowledge about the Australian Ballet. It also contains his thoughts about the responsibilities associated with his role as principal artist. Heathcote concludes the interview by discussing his wife and children and their attitude towards his career.; Australian Ballet, The ; Gielgud, Maina ; Stretton, Ross ; McAllister, David ; Nureyev, Rudolf ; Murphy, Graeme ; Welch, Stanton ; Weir, Natalie ; Page, Stephen ; Beyond Twelve ; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova ; Mercurio, Paul ; Woolliams, Anne ; Alchemy ; Heathcote, Steven ; Spartacus; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 5049
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Interview with Ted Brandsen, 2005 (Oral history): Interviewer: Michelle Potter; Interviewee: Brandsen, Ted; Audiotape; 33 mins; Ted Brandsen discusses his time as artistic director of West Australian Ballet. Topics covered include his reasons for accepting the job; his reasons for leaving Perth to resume working with the Dutch National Ballet; the identity he wanted to create for West Australian Ballet; and issues relating to funding for the company. Brandsen also talks briefly about his interest in Australian choreography and in nurturing Australian choreographers including Adrian Burnett, Gideon Obarzanek and Natalie Weir.; Brandsen, Ted ; Weir, Natalie ; Obarzanek, Gideon ; Burnett, Adrian; Location:; National Library of Australia; TRC 5376
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de Prazer: Jacinta Ross Ehlers and Callum Hastie in Ted Brandsen's 'Romeo and Juliet', West Australian Ballet, 2000

de Prazer: Jacinta Ross Ehlers and Callum Hastie in Ted Brandsen's 'Romeo and Juliet', West Australian Ballet, 2000 (Picture): Brandsen, Ted; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8792/11
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Green, Jon: Jacinta Ross Ehlers and Milos Mutavdzic in a study for Askhat Galiamov's 'Le Corsaire Variations', West Australian Ballet, 2003

Green, Jon: Jacinta Ross Ehlers and Milos Mutavdzic in a study for Askhat Galiamov's 'Le Corsaire Variations', West Australian Ballet, 2003 (Picture): Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/18
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Kira Bousloff, 1992 (Moving picture): 16 mm film, produced by Peter Campbell; colour, sound, 49 mins; Kira Bousloff talks about her childhood in France, learning ballet, her first professional engagements in Europe and dancing in Australia on the Ballets Russes tour of 1938-1939. She discusses staying in Australia at the end of the tour, working with Laurel Martyn and with the National Theatre Ballet Company, and moving to Perth where she established West Australian Ballet. She mentions some of her early choreography, her work with composer James Penberthy, and her love for Australia.; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova ; Ballets Russes Australian tours ; Martyn, Laurel ; Penberthy, James; Location:; Australia Council Archival Film Series; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 289161

Penberthy, James: Kooree and the mists (suite): musical score, 1960(?) (Printed music): Prelude : dance to the mists -- Dance of the mists -- Kooree and the mists -- Entry of the monsters -- Dance of the monsters -- Kooree and the monsters -- Mists

For orchestra. Title from cover. Signed by composer on p. 1. Manuscript paper is enclosed in brown paper cover. The ballet Kooree and the mists was composed for the West Australian Ballet (founded by former Ballets Russes dancer Kira Bousloff) and performed in 1960. With performance markings. Part of the collection: Penberthy, James, 1917-1999. Papers of James Penberthy. Digital master available; National Library of Australia, Manuscripts collection. This score is available for viewing online.; Kooree and the Mists ; Penberthy, James ; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 9748, Series 12, Piece 43
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[Les Noces], 1980 (Moving picture): Choreography: Don Asker; Music: Igor Stravinsky; U-matic videotape, colour, sound, PAL, 31 mins; A work based on the ritual of a Russian peasant wedding. Performed by West Australian Ballet as part of An Evening of Music and Dance at the Octagon Theatre, University of Western Australia on 16 August 1980 in conjunction with the University Collegium Musicum as part of the 4th National Symposium of the Musicological Society. Costumes designed by Joanne Lightfoot. Musical direction by David Tunley. Dancers Benita Whalley (Bride), Tony Tamburri (Groom).; Asker, Don; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 389018

Green, Jon: Louise Chalwell, West Australian Ballet, 2004

Green, Jon: Louise Chalwell, West Australian Ballet, 2004 (Picture): Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/2 LOC nla.pic-vn3101869 Online access
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Green, Jon: Melissa Aurisch, West Australian Ballet, 2003

Green, Jon: Melissa Aurisch, West Australian Ballet, 2003 (Picture): Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/10 LOC nla.pic-vn3101860 Online access
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Newspaper clippings, Barry Moreland, 1964-1997 (Ephemera): A selection of press articles from various Australian newspapers relating to Moreland's career, including articles relating to choreographic works, and his involvement with the Queensland Ballet and West Australian Ballet.; Moreland, Barry ; Queensland Ballet, The; Location:; National Library of Australia; Access through Newspaper/Microform Reading Room

Newspaper clippings, Gideon Obarzanek, 1994-1999 (Ephemera): A selection of press articles from various Australian newspapers relating to Obarzanek's career, including articles relating to choreographic works such as Play Dead and Fast Idol, and to his involvement with West Australian Ballet and Chunky Move.; Obarzanek, Gideon ; Chunky Move; Location:; National Library of Australia; Access through Newspaper/Microform Reading Room

Newspaper clippings, West Australia Ballet, 1964-1992 (Ephemera): A selection of press articles and reviews.; Location:; National Library of Australia; Access through Newspaper/Microform Reading Room

Papers of Gordon Gow, 1939; 1950-1979 (Manuscript): 8 boxes; This collection comprises pubished articles, reviews, interview transcripts and correspondence relating to the career of broadcaster, interviewer, critic, author and radio actor Gordon Gow. The collection contains programs, some with reviews and comments, from performances by a variety of Australian and international dance companies including Australian Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Bejart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Kirov Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, London Festival Ballet, the Royal Ballet, Scottish Theatre Ballet and West Australian Ballet.; Australian Dance Theatre; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 9611
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Papers of James Murdoch, 1941-1990 (bulk 1960-90) (Manuscript): 114 boxes, 1 folio box; The Murdoch Papers are an extensive collection documenting Murdoch's activities as an arts administrator, artistic director, manager, promoter of Australian music and musicians, consultant, and writer and broadcaster between 1960 and 1990. The papers are exceptionally varied in format: correspondence, appointment diaries, personal documents, financial papers, newspaper cuttings, reviews, manuscripts of books and articles, subject files, photographs, programs, publications, concert hall plans, music scores and tape recordings. Of special importance to dance are items relating to Luisillo and his Spanish Dance Theatre's Australian tour, for which Murdoch was musical director, research notes and programs for Dance Springboard, a Sydney Opera House Trust Bicenntennial program, various items relating to his management of Graeme Koehne including material related to the West Australian, Queensland and Australian Ballets, material relating to Murdoch's involvement in the Australia Council's Archival Film Project in which Murdoch interviewed a number of people prominent in Australian dance, and subject files for Australian Dance Theatre, Margaret Barr, Edna Busse, Chandrabhanu, Dance music, International Dance Course, Shirley McKechnie, Betty Pounder, Rex Reid, and Margaret Walker. Further information relating to the scope and content of the papers can be found at MS 8732 - Papers of James Murdoch (1930-).; Luisillo and his Spanish Dance Theatre Australian Tours ; Queensland Ballet, The ; Australian Ballet, The ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Barr, Margaret ; Busse, Edna ; Chandrabhanu ; McKechnie, Shirley ; Pounder, Betty ; Reid, Rex ; Walker, Margaret; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 8732
nla.cat-vn956305; Access restricted until the donor's death

Green, Jon: Photographs by Jon Green, 2001-2004 (Picture): This portfolio of twenty digital images documents a range of choreographers and dancers working in Western Australia. Artists represented include Melissa Aurisch, Louise Chalwell, Jayne Cooper, David Cranson, Simon Dow, Connor Dowling, Jacinta Ross Ehlers, Callum Hastie, Benazir Hussain, Emiliana Lione, Milos Mutavdzic and Nicola Wade from West Australian Ballet; Paul Blackman, Paige Gordon and Tim Rodgers of Buzz Dance Theatre; Nanette Hassall of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts; and independent artist Olivia Millard. The collection also contains images relating to Phillip Adams and his Melbourne-based company BalletLab.; Buzz Dance Theatre ; Gordon, Paige ; Millard, Olivia ; Hassall, Nanette ; Adams, Phillip ; Hussain, Benazir ; Dow, Simon ; BalletLab; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC 8823/1-20
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[Pineapple Poll], 1972 (Moving picture): Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; J-format videotape; black and white, sound, PAL, 49 mins; John Cranko's ballet as performed by West Australian Ballet.; Pineapple Poll; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 437664

Programs, Adelaide Festival, 1960- (Ephemera): 11 boxes; An extensive collection of programs, flyers and promotional ephemera convering every Adelaide Festival since its inception in 1960. Companies and performers represented include Bhaskar and Company, Southern Ballet Group, the Australian Ballet, Bayanihan Philippines Dance Company, Vija Vetra, Kalakshetra, Australian Dance Theatre, Lucero Tena, Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, the Royal Thai Ballet, the Balinese Dance Company, the Georgian State Dance Company, South Australian National Ballet Company, Piatnitsky Folkloric Song and Dance Ensemble, Eleo Pomare Dancers, Chitrasena Dance Company, West Australian Ballet Company, the Polish National Song and Dance Company ? Slansk, Theaterama Ballet, Merce Cunningham and Dance Company, Marilyn Wood, Lhamo - The Folk Theatre of Tibet, Woomera Aboriginal Dancers, Polish Mime Ballet Theatre, Batya Zamir, Flamenco Puro, Chhau - the Masked Dance of Bengal, Ballet-Komische Oper, Prague Chamber Ballet, Wuppertaler Tanztheater, Molissa Fenley and Dancers, D?arc Swan, Veiled Threads, Newmet Dance Theatre Inc, Nederlands Dans Theater, Kazuo Ohno, Kecak Dance, Sankai Juku, Dancers of the Dreaming, Twyla Tharp Dance, Vast, Lyon Opera Ballet, The Kosh, Los Dinzel and Osvaldo Requena, Kerala Kalamandalam, Compagnie Maguy Marin, Compagnie Preljocaj, Meryl Tankard Company, The Collective of Natural Disasters, Mark Morris Dance Group, Frankfurt Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Cambodian National Dance Company, Kanak Dancers of Wetr, Susan Taylor, the Thai National Dance Troupe, Western Samoa Dance Theatre, Batsheva Dance Company, DV8, Meg Stuart, Betontanc (Concrete Dance), Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Les Ballets C. de la B., Karas, Leigh Warren and Dancers, Junko Wada, Virpi Pahkinen, Rosas, Compagnie Mathilde Monnier, Salia N? Seydou, Lucy Guerin Company, New Moves International, La Ribot, Mau Dance, Ballet Nacional de Espaana, and Conjunto di Nero.; Indian Dance in Australia ; Chitrasena Ballet Australian tours ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Merce Cunningham Dance Company Australian tours ; Vast ; Meryl Tankard Company ; Bangarra Dance Theatre ; Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre ; Leigh Warren and Dancers ; Bayanihan Dance Company of the Philippines Australian tours ; Adelaide Festival of the Arts ; Georgian State Dance Company Australian Tours ; Baranggay Philippine Dancers Australian Tour ; Lucy Guerin Inc.; Location:; National Library of Australia; PROMPT Collection (Access through Petherick Room)

Programs, West Australian Ballet, 1953-1999 (Ephemera): 3 boxes; A small collection of programs and ephemera relating to seasons by West Australian Ballet. Material includes some touring information and some seasons at the Festival of Perth. Most material dates from the 1980s and 1990s.; Location:; National Library of Australia; PROMPT Collection (Access through Petherick Room)

Records, Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, 1955-1998 (Manuscript): 696 boxes, several folio items; This extensive collection contains correspondence, play scripts, scores and lyrics, publicity material, magazines, programs, financial records, administrative files, newspaper cuttings, tape recordings, production files, and photographs. Among the many dance companies and organisations documented are: the Australian Ballet; Australian Ballet Foundation; Australian Ballet School; Aboriginal Dance Company; J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd.; West Australian Ballet; Australian Dance Theatre; Ballet Victoria; Dance Company (N.S.W.); Sydney City Ballet; Queensland Ballet; Gopi Krishna?s Dancing Ballet Troupe; Ballet Folklorico of Mexico; Dance Theatre of Harlem; Eleo Pomare Dance Company; Merce Cunningham and Dance Company; National Dance Theatre of Jamaica; Paul Taylor Dance Company; Zorba Song and Dance Company; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre; Ballet Rambert; Bat-Dor Dance Company; Batsheva Dance Company; Chhau Masked Dancers of Bengal; Polish Mime Ballet Theatre; Kathakali Dance Troupe; Ballet Folklorique Yougoslave Branco Kromanovic; Kolo Dancing Ensemble; Claude Bessy and Attilo Labis; Bolshoi Ballet; the Chitrasena Ballet; and the Tasmanian Ballet. Further information relating to the scope and content of the papers can be found at MS 5908 - Records of Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.; Australian Ballet, The ; J. C. Williamson Ltd. ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Ballet Victoria ; Dance Company (NSW), The ; Queensland Ballet, The ; Chitrasena Ballet Australian tours ; Merce Cunningham Dance Company Australian tours ; Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust ; Indian Dance in Australia; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 5908

Records, West Australian Ballet, 1952-1965 (Manuscript): One folder (seven pages of typescript); This material records some of the history and statistics of the early years of West Australian Ballet. It includes lists of personnel and repertoire and notes on the 1964 company tour of the northwest of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Also included is a personal account of the tour by founding artistic director Kira Bousloff 'as told to Val Green'.; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova; Location:; National Library of Australia; MS 1546

[Romeo and Juliet], 1985 (Moving picture): Choreography: Barry Moreland; Music: Renaissance scores devised by Margaret Seares and arranged by Alan Bonds; Lighting: Kenneth Rayner; Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; One-inch videotape; colour, sound, PAL, 105 mins; Moreland's interpretation of the Shakespearean tale.; Moreland, Barry; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 388589

[Seven Deadly Sins], 1987 (Moving picture): Choreography: Barry Moreland; Music: Kurt Weill; Lighting: Kenneth Rayner; Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; U-matic videotape; colour, sound, PAL, 60 mins; Moreland treats the Seven Deadly Sins theme in cabaret style.; Moreland, Barry; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 388991

Green, John: Simon Dow in rehearsal for 'La Boheme', West Australian Ballet, 2004

Green, John: Simon Dow in rehearsal for 'La Boheme', West Australian Ballet, 2004 (Picture): Dow, Simon; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8823/17
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Symphony Australia Collection, [ca. 1902- ca. 1970] (Printed music): This collection consists of chamber, choral, operatic, dance, orchestral, piano and vocal works by Australian composers and arrangers. These scores and parts were the performance materials used by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's orchestras. The majority of the items in the collection are original manuscripts, although some photocopies and published works are also included.

The collection contains a number of choreographic scores, including Werner Baer's The Test of Strength: Ballet Suite choreographed by Gertrud Bodenwieser for the Bodenwieser Ballet in 1936; Raymond Hanson's Dhoogor: Ballet op. 18 for a proposed all-Australian ballet for Ballet Rambert, during their 1947-1949 Australian tour; Henry Krips' Revolution of the Umbrellas choreographed by Helene Kirsova for the Kirsova Ballet in 1943; Dorian Le Gallienne's Contes heraldiques comissioned by and choreographed by Laurel Martyn for her ballet of the same name, first performed by the Victorian Ballet Guild in 1946; a series of works by James Penberthy, choreographed by Kira Bousloff for West Australian Ballet, including Beach Inspector and the Mermaid (1959), Kooree and the Mists (1960), Fire at Ross's Farm (1961), and Brolga a solo choreographed by Bousloff for Terri Charlesworth; Peter Sculthorpe's Sun Music choreographed by Robert Helpmann for the Australian Ballet in 1968; Margaret Sutherland's Dithyramb choreographed by Laurel Martyn for Ballet Guild in 1946; Malcolm Williamson's The Display choreographed by Robert Helpmann for the Australian Ballet in 1964; and Alfred Hill's Tapu, a comic opera staged by J. C. Williamson Ltd. in 1904 which included a Poi dance arranged by Minnie Everett and a Haka performed by The Duke's Own. A Symphony Australia Collection Listing has been created to assist with searching.; Bodenwieser, Gertrud ; Bodenwieser Ballet ; Ballet Rambert Australian tour ; Kirsova, Helene ; Kirsova Ballet ; Ballet Guild ; Martyn, Laurel ; Penberthy, James ; Bousloff, Kira Abricossova ; Sun Music ; J. C. Williamson Ltd. ; Australian Ballet, The ; Display, The ; Helpmann, Robert ; Charlesworth, Terri ; Contes Heraldiques ; Kooree and the Mists ; Revolution of the Umbrellas, The; Location:; National Library of Australia; MUS Symphony Australia Collection
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Tancredi and Chlorinda, 1978 (Moving picture): Cast: Artists of West Australian Ballet; Choreography: Rex Reid; Music: Verdon Williams; J-format videotape, produced by West Australian Ballet; black and white, sound, PAL, 30 mins; Is part of: [Tancredi and Chlorinda : Bokhara, 90 mins; This work was produced for the 1978 Festival of Perth. Poor vision and sound quality due to degeneration of the master tape.; Reid, Rex; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 438232

de Prazer, Ashley: Ted Brandsen and Jacinta Ross Ehlers in rehearsal for Brandsen's 'Romeo and Juliet', West Australian Ballet, 2000

de Prazer, Ashley: Ted Brandsen and Jacinta Ross Ehlers in rehearsal for Brandsen's 'Romeo and Juliet', West Australian Ballet, 2000 (Picture): Brandsen, Ted; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8792/12
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Conyngham, Barry: Vast I-II, III-IV, c. 1987 (Printed music): Used by Graeme Murphy for his Bicentennial production of Vast for Australian Dance Theatre, the Queensland Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and West Australian Ballet.; Vast ; Murphy, Graeme ; Sydney Dance Company ; Australian Dance Theatre ; Queensland Ballet, The; Location:; National Library of Australia; MUS N m 784.2 C768
nla.cat-vn2910940; Petherick Reading Room (Music Collection)

Ways to Nirvana, 1977 (Moving picture): Choreography: Eleanor Martin; Cast: Margaret Rust, Floris Gout, Michelle Randall, Rosemary Clifton of West Australian Ballet; 16 mm film, produced for Film Australia; colour, sound, 12 mins; A ballet about the search for peace.; Location:; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 221976

[We Are Together], 1980 (Moving picture): Choreography: Don Asker; Music: Geoffrey Madge; U-matic videotape, colour, sound, PAL; Is part of: [Spirals : We Are Together : The Visitor], 62 mins; A work performed as part of a triple bill by West Australian Ballet at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth.; Asker, Don; Location:; The Keep Dancing! Collection; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 427810

West Australian Ballet Website (Archived) (Website): The West Australian Ballet Website was archived by Pandora on 4 August 2008.; Location:; Online; Archived as: http://nla.gov.au/nla.arc-32007

West Australian Ballet Website (Website): Location:; Online; http://www.waballet.com.au/

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