MS 9553
Guide to the Papers of Shirley McKechnie



Summary

Creator:  MCKECHNIE, Shirley
Title:  Papers of Shirley McKechnie
Date range:  1938-1995
Extent: 42cm (4 boxes)
Reference number: MS 9553

 


Administrative Information

Access:

Available for reference, except for 1 folder which is closed until 2020.

Provenance:

The collection was acquired in three instalments in 2001 from Shirley McKechnie, as part of the Library’s ‘Keep Dancing’ project.


Scope and Content

The bulk of the papers relate to McKechnie’s involvement in the development of contemporary dance in Australia. Included is correspondence (1966-96), a report of a 1974 study tour to investigate how dance is incorporated into the education system and a subsequent submission to the State College of Victoria Accreditation Committee (1977), papers relating to a Choreographic Workshop at the University of New England (1976), copies of papers presented at a Dance Education conference (1977), papers relating to Canon for four dancers which was choreographed by McKecknie (1988), a report of a visit to China for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1992) and papers relating to the first meeting of the Tertiary Dance Council of Australia (1996). There are papers relating to McKechnie’s involvement in the Green Mill Dance Project (1991-94) and to her long association with both Dame Peggy van Praagh and Peter Brinson. Also included are posters, programs and brochures (1956-72), press cuttings (1964-96) and photographs.

Correspondents include Werdon Anglin, Peter Brinson, Lenton Parr, Gordon van Praagh, Peggy van Praagh, Ian Spink and Janet Vernon.

Arrangement

Although the general arrangement of the papers has been imposed by the Library, all files created by McKechnie have been kept intact.

Related Material

The papers of Peggy van Praggh (MS 7223) and the records of the Green Mill Dance Project (MS 9370) are held in the Manuscript Section of the Library.

The Oral History Section of the Library holds a sound recording of an interview with McKechnie recorded in 1989 (ORAL TRC 2517)


Biographical Note

A dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance director, Shirley McKechnie is one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Australia. She founded the Australian Contemporary Dance Theatre in 1963 and was the company’s artistic director and main choreographer between 1963-1973. In 1975 McKechnie founded and directed the first degree course in dance studies in an Australian tertiary institution at Rusden College, now Deakin University. With Dame Peggy van Praagh she founded the Australian Association For Dance Education (now Ausdance) in 1977. In 1986 McKechnie was founding chair of the Tertiary Dance Council of Australia, and in 1991 was involved in the formation of the Green Mill Dance Project in Melbourne.

McKechnie has served on national and international panels for the accreditation of dance courses, for symposiums on research into dance and as a consultant to government on policies on dance education. In 1998 she was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Awards
1987 Order of Australia, in recognition of services to dance and dance education
1993 Kenneth Myer Medallion for the Performing Arts
1997 The National Award for contributions to dance education and training
1998 The Ausdance 21 Award for outstanding and distinguished service



Box List

Box 1

Folder

1 Correspondence: includes letters from Ian Spink and Janet Vernon, 1971
2 Correspondence: letters to Peggy van Praagh, 1974
3 Correspondence: letters to Lenton Parr, 1974
4 Report of study tour to the United States of America, England and Europe, 1974
5 Photographs from the Summer School at the University of New England, Armidale, 1974
6-7 Choreographic Workshops, University of New England, Armidale, 1976
8 Canon for four dancers: choreographic notes and program, 1988
9 Miscellaneous posters, reviews and programs, 1964-1972

Box 2

Folder

 
10 Correspondence and papers relating to McKechnie’s career, 1966-1987
11 Correspondence re Victorian State Ministry issues, 1976-1984
12 Correspondence: Victorian Ministry for the Arts, the Benesh Institute and various choreographers and companies, 1988-1992
13-14 Correspondence: Werdon Anglin, Peter Brinson, Marion North and various choreographers, 1990-1995
15 Report and correspondence relating to a visit to China on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1992
16 Correspondence relating to Peggy van Praagh, 1990-1996

Box 3

Folder

 
17 Correspondence and papers relating to the death of Peggy van Praagh, 1990-1993
18 Register of those who attended the funeral of Peggy van Praagh, 1990
Booklet from Van Praagh family reunion, 1996
19 Papers relating to the involvement of Peggy van Praagh and Peter Brinson with the University of New England, Armidale, 1982-1997
20 Copy of ‘Submission for the introduction of dance as a major strand within the Bachelor of Education Degree’, c1976
21 Dance Education conference papers, 1977
Report of a meeting between the artistic directors of major funded dance companies and the National Council of Tertiary Dance Directors
22 Green Mill Dance Project: historical background, 1991
23 Green Mill Dance Project: correspondence with Peter Brinson, 1992

 

Box 4

Folder

 
24 Green Mill Dance Project: reports of the 1993 festival
25 Green Mill Dance Project: papers and reports, 1994
26 Agenda, minutes and papers for the first meeting of the Tertiary Dance Council of Australia, 1996
27 Reviews and articles by McKechnie for Storm magazine, 1994-1995
28 Miscellaneous programs and brochures, 1956-1972
Press cuttings, 1964-1996
29 Personal papers, including high school and university reports and awards for achievements in dance
30 Photographs
31 Copy of The arts in schools: principles, practice and provision, researched and edited by Dr Ken Robinson, 1989