Research Catalog

The Australian Ballet opening act, 1962-1972

Title
The Australian Ballet [videorecording] : opening act, 1962-1972 / ScreenSound Australia ; National Library of Australia ; directed by Sally Jackson, ScreenSound of Australia, and Michelle Potter, National Library of Australia ; produced by Sally Jackson.
Publication
Australia : ScreenSound Australia [and] National Library of Australia, c2002.

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Moving imageUse in library *MGZIDVD 5-53Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance

Details

Additional Authors
  • Jackson, Sally.
  • Potter, Michelle, 1944-
  • Kitcher, Barry.
  • Roberts, Helen Vaughan.
  • Van Praagh, Peggy
  • Helpmann, Robert, Sir, 1909-1986
  • Akers, William.
  • Scott, Margaret.
  • Gorham, Kathleen
  • Coe, Kelvin
  • Powell, Ray
  • Reid, Rex
  • Martyn, Laurel
  • Geldard, Kathleen
  • Ashton, Frederick, 1904-1988
  • Arova, Sonia
  • Watts, Jonathan
  • Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986
  • Rowe, Marilyn
  • Serrano, Lupe
  • Fernandez, Royes
  • Fonteyn, Margot, 1919-1991
  • Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993
  • Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993.
  • Karin, Janet.
  • Aldous, Lucette
  • Welch, Garth, 1936-
  • Jones, Marilyn
  • Pounder, Betty
  • Balanchine, George
  • Australian Ballet.
  • ScreenSound Australia.
  • National Library of Australia.
Description
1 videodisc (PAL) (71 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences; 4 3/4 in.
Summary
Documentary (ca. 71 min.) on the Australian Ballet's first ten years of existence. Topics explored include the legacy of Edouard Borovansky and his ballet company; the founding of the Australian Ballet and its affiliated school; the company's early repertory, which included both classics and new works, the latter often based on Australian themes and created through the collaboration of Australian choreographers, composers, and designers; the contrasting styles of the company's co-directors, Peggy van Praagh and Robert Helpmann (both of whom are depicted in capsule biographies); the importation of foreign guest artists (notably Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev); the development of young Australian dancers; the company's foreign tours and guest choreographers. Includes numerous dance excerpts, many of them drawn from archival footage and newsreels.
Donor/Sponsor
Gift of Michelle Potter.
Uniform Title
  • Coppélia (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Sergeev, N)
  • Rendez-vous (Choreographic work : Ashton)
  • Giselle (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Coralli and Perrot)
  • Just for fun (Choreographic work : Powell)
  • Melbourne cup (Choreographic work : Reid)
  • Display (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
  • Sentimental bloke (Choreographic work : Martyn)
  • Yugen (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
  • Elektra (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
  • Cinderella (Choreographic work : Ashton)
  • Don Quixote (Choreographic work : Nureyev after Petipa, M)
  • Raymonda (Choreographic work : Nureyev after Petipa, M)
  • Sylphides (Choreographic work : Fokin)
  • Jazz spectrum (Choreographic work : Pounder)
  • Ballet imperial (Choreographic work : Balanchine)
  • Sleeping beauty (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Petipa, M)
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Dance.
  • Documentaries and factual films and programs.
  • Video.
Credits (note)
  • Script and research, Michelle Potter and Sally Jackson ; script editing, Wendy Rawady ; executive producer, Jean Wein.
Performer (note)
  • Introduced by Barry Kitcher.
  • Narrator: Helen Vaughan Roberts.
  • Interviewees: William Akers, Margaret Scott, Ray Powell, Kelvin Coe, Janet Karin; pre-recorded interviews with Peggy van Praagh, Robert Helpmann, Kathleen Gorham, Rudolf Nureyev, Lucette Aldous.
System Details (note)
  • DVD.
Contents
  • Dance excerpts: Coppélia / choreography, Peggy van Praagh -- Les rendezvous / choreography, Frederick Ashton -- [Swan lake. Four cygnets] / danced in rehearsal -- Giselle / choreography, Peggy van Praagh -- Just for fun / choreography, Ray Powell -- Melbourne cup / choreography, Rex Reid; danced by Barbara Chambers, Caj Selling, others -- The display / choreography, Robert Helpmann; danced by Kathleen Gorham, others -- Sentimental bloke / choreography, Laurel Martyn -- Yugen / choreography, Robert Helpmann; danced by Kathleen Gorham, others -- Elektra / choreography, Robert Helpmann; danced by Kathleen Geldard, others -- Cinderella / choreography, Frederick Ashton; danced by Lucette Aldous, Kelvin Coe, Ashton, Helpmann, others -- Coppélia / danced by Sonia Arova, Jonathan Watts, others -- Don Quixote / choreography, Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa; danced by Kelvin Coe -- Raymonda / choreography, Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa; danced by Kelvin Coe, Marilyn Rowe, others -- Les sylphides / choreography, Michel Fokine; danced by Lupe Serrano, Royes Fernandez -- Giselle / choreography, Peggy van Praagh; danced by Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, others -- Romeo and Juliet / choreography, Rudolf Nureyev -- Don Quixote / danced by Rudolf Nureyev, Lucette Aldous -- Don Quixote / danced by Marilyn Rowe, others -- Jazz spectrum / choreography, Betty Pounder -- Ballet imperial / choreography, George Balanchine -- The sleeping beauty / choreography, Peggy van Praagh.
  • Dance excerpts, continued: Façade [appears under closing credits] / choreography, Frederick Ashton.
  • [Additional features:] Yugen picture gallery [still frames].
  • Newsreels: Interview with Peggy van Praagh, 1970 (ca. 5 min.) / discussion of the company's upcoming U.S. tour -- Robert Helpmann, C.B.E., 1965 (ca. 2 min., b&w) / discussion of the impact of the company's second world tour -- The Australian Ballet with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, 1964 (ca. 4 min., b&w) / includes footage of Ray Powell's Just for fun, and Peggy van Praagh's staging of Giselle, danced by Fonteyn and Nureyev -- Diary 27, Ballet dancer [Kathleen Geldard], 1968 (ca. 6 min.) / includes excerpts from Robert Helpmann's Elektra, as well as scenes from the life of Kathleen Geldard, including company class, rehearsals, and making up for the role of Elektra.
Call Number
*MGZIDVD 5-53
OCLC
NYPY04-F65
Title
The Australian Ballet [videorecording] : opening act, 1962-1972 / ScreenSound Australia ; National Library of Australia ; directed by Sally Jackson, ScreenSound of Australia, and Michelle Potter, National Library of Australia ; produced by Sally Jackson.
Imprint
Australia : ScreenSound Australia [and] National Library of Australia, c2002.
Country of Producing Entity
Australia.
System Details
DVD.
Credits
Script and research, Michelle Potter and Sally Jackson ; script editing, Wendy Rawady ; executive producer, Jean Wein.
Performer
Introduced by Barry Kitcher.
Narrator: Helen Vaughan Roberts.
Interviewees: William Akers, Margaret Scott, Ray Powell, Kelvin Coe, Janet Karin; pre-recorded interviews with Peggy van Praagh, Robert Helpmann, Kathleen Gorham, Rudolf Nureyev, Lucette Aldous.
Danced by the Australian Ballet. Highlighted dancers include Garth Welch, Marilyn Jones, Kathleen Gorham, Kelvin Coe, Barbara Chambers, Caj Selling, Kathleen Geldard, Marilyn Rowe.
Guest artists: Lucette Aldous, Frederick Ashton, Sonia Arova, Erik Bruhn, Jonathan Watts, Lupe Serrano, Royes Fernandez, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev.
Added Author
Jackson, Sally. Director. Producer. Author. Researcher
Potter, Michelle, 1944- Director. Author. Researcher
Kitcher, Barry. Speaker
Roberts, Helen Vaughan. Narrator
Van Praagh, Peggy, choreographer. Interviewee
Helpmann, Robert, Sir, 1909-1986, choreographer.
Helpmann, Robert, Sir, 1909-1986, dancer.
Helpmann, Robert, Sir, 1909-1986, interviewee.
Akers, William. Interviewee
Scott, Margaret. Interviewee
Gorham, Kathleen, dancer. Interviewee
Coe, Kelvin, dancer. Interviewee
Powell, Ray, choreographer, dancer. Interviewee
Reid, Rex, choreographer.
Martyn, Laurel, choreographer.
Geldard, Kathleen, dancer. Interviewee
Ashton, Frederick, 1904-1988, choreographer, dancer.
Arova, Sonia, dancer.
Watts, Jonathan, dancer.
Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986, dancer.
Rowe, Marilyn, dancer.
Serrano, Lupe, dancer.
Fernandez, Royes, dancer.
Fonteyn, Margot, 1919-1991, dancer.
Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993, choreographer.
Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993, dancer.
Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993. Interviewee
Karin, Janet. Interviewee
Aldous, Lucette, dancer. Interviewee
Welch, Garth, 1936- dancer.
Jones, Marilyn, dancer.
Pounder, Betty, choreographer.
Balanchine, George, choreographer.
Australian Ballet.
ScreenSound Australia.
National Library of Australia.
Added Title
Coppélia (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Sergeev, N)
Rendez-vous (Choreographic work : Ashton)
Giselle (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Coralli and Perrot)
Just for fun (Choreographic work : Powell)
Melbourne cup (Choreographic work : Reid)
Display (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
Sentimental bloke (Choreographic work : Martyn)
Yugen (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
Elektra (Choreographic work : Helpmann)
Cinderella (Choreographic work : Ashton)
Don Quixote (Choreographic work : Nureyev after Petipa, M)
Raymonda (Choreographic work : Nureyev after Petipa, M)
Sylphides (Choreographic work : Fokin)
Jazz spectrum (Choreographic work : Pounder)
Ballet imperial (Choreographic work : Balanchine)
Sleeping beauty (Choreographic work : Van Praagh after Petipa, M)
Research Call Number
*MGZIDVD 5-53
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