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Papers of Shirley McKechnie 1938-1996 [manuscript]
Bib ID 1050223
Format ManuscriptManuscript
Author McKechnie, Shirley, 1926-
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Finding aid
Access Conditions Available for reference. Not for loan. One folder closed until 2020. 
Description 1938-1996. 
42 cm. (4 boxes) 
Summary

The bulk of the papers relate to McKechnie's involvement in the development of contemporary dance in Australia. Includes correspondence (1966-96), a report of a 1974 study tour to investigate how dance is incorporated into the education system and a subsequent submission of 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 McKechnie (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).

Also included in this collection are papers relating to McKechnie's involvement in the Green Mill Dance Project (1991-94) and her long association with both Dame Peggy van Praagh and Peter Brinson. There are posters, programs and brochures (1956-72), press cuttings (1964-96), photographs, and correspondence. Correspondents include Werdon Anglin, Peter Brinson, Lenton Parr, Gordon van Praagh, Peggy van Praagh, Ian Spink and Janet Vernon.

Biography/History A dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance director, McKechnie is one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Australia. She founded the Australian Contemporary Dance Theatre (1963) and, in 1975, 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. She was Founding chair of the Tertiary Dance Council of Australia (1986), and she founded the Green Mill Dance Project. McKechnie has served on national and international panels for the accreditation of dance courses, for symposiums on research in dance and as a consultant to government on policies for art education. She is now a Professorial Fellow at the Victoria College of the Arts. 
Subjects McKechnie, Shirley, - 1926- - Archives.  |  Van Praagh, Peggy, - Dame, - 1910-1990 - Correspondence.  |  Brinson, Peter, - 1920-1995 - Correspondence.  |  Van Praagh, Peggy, - Dame, - 1910-1990.  |  Green Mill Dance Project - Archives.  |  Dance archives - Australia.  |  Dancers - Australia - Archives.  |  Choreographers - Australia - Archives.
Occupation Choreographers.  |  Dancers.
Details Collect From
MS 9553 Manual Request only from Manuscript Reading Room, 2nd Floor
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