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Series 9: Australian Ballet, 1961-1985

The Australian Ballet was established in 1962 by the Australian Ballet Foundation. The Foundation was created in 1961 by the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust and J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd following the disbandment of the Borovansky Ballet which had toured extensively in Australia and New Zealand since 1943. Peggy van Praagh was invited to be the founding Artistic Director of the Ballet. The new company gave its first performance on 2 November 1962.
The series consists of correspondence, notes, programs and reports relating to the administration and activities of the Australian Ballet.

 

Folder 1-2 Australian Ballet Foundation : notes and correspondence relating to its establishment, minutes of meetings and press releases, 1961-1962
The main correspondents are van Praagh, J. C. Williamson and Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
Folder 3 Australian Ballet Foundation : notes and correspondence, between van Praagh, J. C. Williamson and Elizabethan Theatre Trust relating to the establishment of the Australian Ballet Foundation, 1961-1962
Van Praagh was still in London at this time.
Folder 4-6 Australian Ballet : programs of performances and information booklets, 1962-1985
Folder 7 Australian Ballet School : notes relating to its formation and minutes of early meetings, 1962-1970
There is also a copy of a memorandum of association (1970) and articles of association (1970) for the School and a small number of newscuttings relating to the formation of the School.
Folder 8 Australian Ballet School : programs for performances, a School prospectus and a report on the School by van Praagh, 1964-1979
Folder 9 Residential School on Ballet, University of New England, 5-10 February 1967; notes and lecture material for the course which was supported by van Praagh and members of the Australian Ballet, 1967-1976
Further courses were held in 1973, 1974 and 1976. The file contains notes and programs for these courses.
Folder 10 Itinerary and programs relating to an International Tour by the Australian Ballet, 1967
Folder 11 Reports to the Australian Ballet Foundation, by van Praagh on the Australian Ballet, 1968-1982
Folder 12 Itinerary for a tour of South-East Asia, and programs and flyers for tours in Australia, 1968-1969
Folder 13 Report and programs for a tour to country areas, Darwin and Port Moresby, 1969
Folder 14 Correspondence, between van Praagh and the Australian Ballet relating to her employment with the Ballet, 1970-1982
Folder 15 Itinerary of a tour to the United States of America by the Australian Ballet, 1970-1971
Folder 16 List of tour dates, 1971-1974, and a biographical note on van Praagh for the period 1967-1970
Folder 17 Correspondence and other papers, relating to a 1973 European Tour by the Australian Ballet, 1972-1973
Proposed itineraries, programs, a budget and discussion notes for the tour of Russia. There is also a brief outline of the history of ballet in Australia prepared by van Praagh and congratulatory messages from the Russian authorities sent after the tour of Russia.
Folder 18 Newscuttings of the Australian Ballet's London Season, 1973
Folder 19 Correspondence, with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation relating to dance issues, 1974-1976
Folder 20 Correspondence, and newscuttings relating to the retirement of van Praagh from the Australian Ballet, 1974-1975
Folder 21 Lecture notes for a course for 2nd and 3rd year students at the Australian Ballet School, 1977
Folder 22 'Dance horizons' : a tribute to Dame Peggy van Praagh, Princes Theatre, Melbourne, 21-23 July 1977
A program, newscuttings, telegrams and notes for a speech given by van Praagh.
Folder 23 Notes, cast list, newscuttings and program for a 1979 performance of Coppelia in Melbourne, 1979-1985
Including newscuttings for performances in Sydney and Melbourne in 1985.
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