The Australian Ballet School, Brisbane

The Australian Ballet School, Brisbane

• Educational

In 2014 The Australian Ballet School celebrated 50 years of excellence in classical dance training and education.

It all started In the declining days of the Borovansky Ballet; a group of enthusiastic and talented dancers, choreographers, designers and musicians gathered at the home of Margaret Scott and her husband, Derek Denton, to talk about the need of a national dance company supported by a strong and independent school.

In 1962, while Peggy van Praagh was overseas, Margaret Scott was commissioned by The Elizabethan Theatre Trust to prepare a report on the possible founding of a national school to complement the newly established Australian Ballet. The submission was successful and in 1964 Margaret Scott was appointed the School’s first Director. In March 1964 the School opened its doors to the first students, just 15 months after the formation of The Australian Ballet.

For further information, see https://www.australianballetschool.com.au/pages/history

Officer-in-charge: Librarian

Dance literature (technical, historic, biographic etc); visual and audio recordings of all forms of dance; designs and drawings of productions created for and by the Australian Ballet School.

• The Australian Ballet School: Records, 1964- present (20m).
• Daryl Lindsay: Original drawings, 1937-1940 (5m).
• Scott Mattewson: Designs and drawings, 1985 (1m).
• Kate Murray: Costume designs, 1980 (.5m).
• Graham McKenzie: Set and costume designs, 1976 (0.5m).
• Kenneth Rowell: Designs, 1947-1989 (1m).
• Various publishers: Ballet magazines, 1923- present (12m); Dance books, 1900- present (40m).
  Quantity: 90m

Jill Arkell, Ed., W.H.A.T.. Roseville, Sydney: Campbell Publishing, 1988.
Australia Council, OZARTS, Port Melbourne: D W Thorpe, 1989.

Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm by appointment only.
Closed Saturday and Sundays, also late December and January.

Two weeks' advance notice of visit required. Proof of identity and reasons for research required.

General reference assistance available. Referral to paid researchers is available.

Copying services available for books and journals.

• Education (Thematic area)