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Mary Duchesne interviewed by James Murdoch. [sound recording]
Bib ID 1415953
Format AudioAudio, OnlineOnline [sound recording]
Author
Duchesne, Mary, 1932-1996, Interviewee
 
Online Versions
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1986 
3 sound tape reels (ca. 96 min.) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 7 in. 
Summary

Duchesne, a ballet dancer, modern dance choreographer, actress, speaks of events from 1960 when she returned to Australia due to family pressures after 8 years overseas, her experience with the Borovansky Ballet, her later regret in not going back to England, her involvement with dance and operas on ABC TV while based in Melbourne, the innovative dancers on Channel 9's Graham Kennedy Show, her involvement with Channel 7 in ballet productions, how dance classes were organised prior to the formation of the Australian Ballet in 1962, some of the dancers who formed the first company of the Australian Ballet under Dame Peggy van Praagh, how she gave up dancing due to leg injury and her TV work during this period, how in 1968 she became involved in a dance production of Othello as stage director for the State Opera Company of N.S.W. out of which grew the Sydney Dance Company.

Duchesne discusses her involvement in contemporary dance, the mixture of work since 1973 consisting of teaching dance, guesting in various companies and involvement with Australian ballet as well as TV commercials and soap operas but mixed with some years of poverty due to lack of work, the highlight of her working career was performing in 1978 with a tour of "Stars of World Ballet" with many of the great ballet dancers, how the Australian Ballet became torn by internal politics which lead to her enrolment in NIDA Directors course in 1981, how well suited she is as a director's assistant in any production, the demanding dancing required in "Homelands", some comments on "Daisy Bates".

Notes

Recorded on Nov. 16, 1986.

Also available online via the Internet at: http:/­/­nla.gov.au/­nla.oh-vn1415953

Index/Finding Aid Note Corrected partial transcript available (typescript, 47 leaves) 
Subjects Duchesne, Mary, - 1932-1996 - Interviews.  |  Australian Ballet - History.  |  Borovansky Ballet.  |  Ballerinas - Australia - Interviews.  |  Choreographers - Australia - Interviews.  |  Television actors and actresses - Australia - Interviews.  |  Television and the arts - Australia - History.  |  Ballet companies - Australia - History.
Other authors/contributors Murdoch, James, 1930-2010, Interviewer

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Details Collect From
ORAL TRC 1981
Copy: Recording
Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
ORAL TRC 1981 (transcript)
Copy: Transcript
Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)

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Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.