Lesma Sturmer interviewed by Alex and Annette Hood in the Margaret Barr dancers oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3624222
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Sturmer, Lesma, 1922-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2005 Dec. 5
- 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 129 min.)
- Series:
- Margaret Barr dancers oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Lesma Sturmer, born 1922, in Shanghai, China talks about her family background; after her father's death, coming to Sydney, Australia with her mother (1926); mother working; 'Agincourt' orphans home at Strathfield; mother re-marrying, during the Depression; living in unemployment camp at Malabar; childhood memories; schooling; mother's health; step father's death; mother winning money in the lottery; arriving in New Zealand; life in Auckland; meeting Margaret Barr (1940) who had arrived in New Zealand with husband Bruce Hart, having left England to escape the war; refers to book written by her husband, Caryll von Sturmer; attending university; continuing dance classes with Barr twice a week; Barr taking over the School of Dance Drama; meeting her future husband, Caryll von Sturmen; the W.E.A Theatre in Auckland; the Auckland Repertory Theatre; the film of 'Hebridean' (1944-45); Phil Jay; post-war changes, politics; story about Barr's classes.
Sturmer discusses returning to Australia with her mother (1946); losing contact with Margaret Barr for six years; Walter Brown and his relationship with Barr; his involvement in the Auckland Drama Group; John Gordon; Jack Levy and Keith Gow; Margaret Barr's life with Bruce Hart and their relationship; Dartington Hall, UK; the Elmhursts; Morris Brown and Ellen Volkenburg in the U.S.A; Peter Goth; Martha Graham's School, New York; Kai Tai Chan dancers; Kurt Joos; Margaret Barr's sister Betty and their childhood; 'Strange Children', filmed work on Curl Curl sand dunes; Arnold Butcher; Bobby Williams; Pat Norris and Norma Disher; design and costumes; how their relationship changed after the Walter Brown break-up; she talks about Barr's illnesses, failing health and her death.
- Biography/History:
-
Lesma Sturmer was born in Shanghai in 1922 of Latvian parents. Her mother was a refugee who met her father, a marine engineer stationed in Shanghai. Shortly after her father died in 1926 she arrived in Australia with her mother on the 'S.S. Cephee'. As a teenager in NZ, she came in contact with Margaret Barr, teacher of dance and drama and former collaborator with Martha Graham in the U.S.A. and resident teacher at Dartington Hall in England. She became a friend of Margaret's, eventually working with her company in Sydney, Australia. It was an ongoing friendship which lasted for 50 years, right up to Margaret's death in 1991. She provides a fascinating insight to the life and work of Margaret Barr.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on December 5, 2005 at Epping, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (8 p.)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Margaret Barr dancers oral history project.
This collection contains 11 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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