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Keith Bain interviewed by Alex Hood and Annette Hood in the Alex Hood folklore collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 3802206
Format AudioAudio
Author Bain, Keith
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 2006. 
2 digital audio tapes (ca. 95 min.) 
Series Alex Hood folklore collection 
Summary

Folkloric recording. Keith Bain speaks about his parents; his childhood in Wauchope, N.S.W.; attending primary school; being an enthusiast and disciplinarian; Tonic Solfa method of music teaching; learning piano by nuns at the convent; playing duets with his brother; eldest of three children; being an athlete; attending Kempsey High School; attending Teachers College in Armidale, N.S.W; Dorothy Helmridge; being a good ballroom dancer; dance band the Jesters; learning dancing; 'Polish Australian Dance Company'; Reisa Kuznetsova; travelling to Warsaw; meeting Reisa; Bodenweiser dancers, modern dance; becoming a teacher, wanting to teach out west; being the music specialist to Kogarah Boys' High; organising outside music trips for students; meeting of ex-student; teaching ballroom dancing (1946-1950); completed university course in Arts; being involved in Drama and theatre; dancing ballroom style; Trocadero; Frank Coghlan Orchestra; Big Band period; moving to Temora school; travelling to Sydney every weekend attending matinees and Gallery exhibitions; organising performances locally; choreographed performances; Royal Ballet; being involved in the Metropolitan Theatre; first big show 'The Tempest'; Anita Ardele; joining classes with Madame Bodenweiser.

Bain speaks about retiring from teaching; teaching at Arthur Murray's Dance School; Bodenweiser; meeting his dance partner Joyce Lofts; exhibition work with another partner Doris Fitton; teaching at The Independent Theatre, remaining for 20 years; Ensemble Theatre; Jane Street Theatre; Margaret Barr and Val Tweedie; Jane St. Theatre; developing techniques to assist actors; Peggy Watson; his work on 'Snowy'; how choreographers work today; Keith and Peggy Watson; Robert Allnutt; Kathryn Durham; visiting dance companies; Ronnie Arnold; Carole Johnson; Joe Jenkins; Kai Tai Chan; Annette; Helen Fong; Jamie Macintyre; Margaret's works; Margaret's great sense of theatre; 'Water Lily' piece; 'short ballets' of Bodenweiser and 'Dance Poems'; choreographic competitions; difficulties for performers; comeback of Ballroom dancing; suffering mini-stroke, limiting his teaching; Bill Gill and the Festival Ballet; Les Peterkin; Marilyn Burr; Nagy; Cissy Burr; Festival Ballet; 'Dreaming'; ageing and memories fading; explains how preservation works.

Full contents Tells stories about: His mother -- an incident during a performance. 
Biography/History Keith Bain was born in Sydney, N.S.W., 1926. He is a highly respected dancer and teacher. A major influence was Alvin Alley's visiting company and the work of Madame Bodenweiser. He worked with Hayes Gordon at the Ensemble Theatre as well as at the Independent Theatre with Doris Fitton. He also worked with Margaret Barr both in productions and teaching at NIDA. 
Notes

Accompanying material: photographs of interviewee.

Recorded on October 13, 2006 at Maroubra, N.S.W.

Digital master; National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore collection;

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary (5 p.) and Uncorrected transcript (typescript, 86 leaves) 
Subjects Bain, Keith - Interviews.  |  Dancers - New South Wales - Interviews.  |  Teachers - New South Wales - Interviews.  |  Ballroom dancing - Australia.
Occupation Teachers.
Other Authors Hood, Alex, 1935-  |  Hood, Annette, 1948-
Details Collect From
ORAL TRC 5682/7
Copy: Recording
Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
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ORAL TRC 5682/7 (transcript)
Copy: Transcript
Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
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ORAL TRC 5682/7 (summary)
Copy: Summary
Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
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