4. Reflect on the significance of Dame Peggy van Praagh on the development of Australian dance in general and the Australian Ballet in particular.
English born, Dame Peggy van Praagh, The Australian Ballet Company’s premiere Artistic Director presented Australian dancers and audiences with a development of classical ballet in Australia; taking initiative to build a dance company that revitalized the Ballet of the nation, advancing their standard and “defining the face of ballet in our country.” Their debut performance of Swan Lake, in 1962, demonstrated the resilience of “rich tradition” of ballet to their audiences and emphasized the dedication and commitment the choreographers and dancers apply to their art form.
Van Praagh was educated at King Alfred School, which had a significant impact on developing a career of artistic creativity and a future of dance. She began dance classes at the age of four and was a former dancer with Ballet Rambert and Antony Tudor’s London Ballet. In 1959 she was requested to travel to Australia, due to the death of Edouard Borovansky, undertaking the role of Artistic Director of the late choreographer’s company. In 1962, the Australian Government created a vision of developing an Australian Ballet …show more content…
These requests were developed to build an understanding of the companies aesthetics to the young, inspiring dancers, guiding them into a professional career. The Australian Ballet School was established in 1964, two years after the company, under the direction of Margaret Scott. Several leading Australian choreographers and company artistic directors were Australian Ballet School graduates, including Graeme Murphy, Gideon Obarzanek, Meryl Tankard and Garry
English born, Dame Peggy van Praagh, The Australian Ballet Company’s premiere Artistic Director presented Australian dancers and audiences with a development of classical ballet in Australia; taking initiative to build a dance company that revitalized the Ballet of the nation, advancing their standard and “defining the face of ballet in our country.” Their debut performance of Swan Lake, in 1962, demonstrated the resilience of “rich tradition” of ballet to their audiences and emphasized the dedication and commitment the choreographers and dancers apply to their art form.
Van Praagh was educated at King Alfred School, which had a significant impact on developing a career of artistic creativity and a future of dance. She began dance classes at the age of four and was a former dancer with Ballet Rambert and Antony Tudor’s London Ballet. In 1959 she was requested to travel to Australia, due to the death of Edouard Borovansky, undertaking the role of Artistic Director of the late choreographer’s company. In 1962, the Australian Government created a vision of developing an Australian Ballet …show more content…
These requests were developed to build an understanding of the companies aesthetics to the young, inspiring dancers, guiding them into a professional career. The Australian Ballet School was established in 1964, two years after the company, under the direction of Margaret Scott. Several leading Australian choreographers and company artistic directors were Australian Ballet School graduates, including Graeme Murphy, Gideon Obarzanek, Meryl Tankard and Garry