Australia Dancing - Hall, Hugh P. (1899

Hall, Hugh P. (1899 - 1967)

Hall, Hugh P.: Tamara Grigorieva as Action in 'Les Presages', Covent Garden Russian Ballet [2], 1939

Hugh P Hall was raised in Melbourne, attending Caulfield Grammar and then the University of Melbourne where he studied law. On completing his degree, he enrolled at the National Gallery School to pursue his interest in painting. His father's early death, however, precipitated him taking on business and family responsibilities, embarking on his professional career as a solicitor. While this remained his lifelong profession, his continued passion for the arts saw him develop a strong interest in photography as well as maintaining his interest in other areas of visual art.

Hall's interest in dance photography was kindled during Pavlova's Australian tours of 1926 and 1929. His photographs of the Ballets Russes performances in the late 1930s provide an invaluable insight into the de Basil companies' tours, and were the subject of two very successful exhibitions at the time. Hall also documented the Borovansky, Kirsova and Rambert companies. A number of Hall's dance images appear in his 1948 book, Ballet in Australia: From Pavlova to Rambert.

Photographs taken by Hall during the tours by the Covent Garden Russian Ballet and Original Ballet Russe, 'Hugh P Hall collection of photographs, 1938-1940' are available online as digitised images at 'Hugh P. Hall collection of photographs, 1938-1940'. For more about the acquisition of the collection by the National Library of Australia see 'New Light on the Ballets Russes' in National Library of Australia News, October 2007.

Bibliography:

Hugh P Hall, Ballet in Australia from Pavlova to Rambert (Melbourne: Georgian House, 1948)

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