Ruth Galene interviewed by Michelle Potter for the Keep dancing oral history project [sound recording]

Galene, choreographer, talks about her family background, experiences as a child in Berlin, coming to Australia, beginnings of her dance training in Sydney, nature of the Bodenwieser method of training, differences between classical and modern dance, her teachers, joining a professional company, life in the Borovansky company, working with Ballet Rambert in Australia, travelling to England to pursue her career, her teachers in Europe and England including Vera Volkova, working with Roland Petit, studying in Paris, working with the Marquis de Cuevas company, impetus to move back to Australia, joining the National Theatre Ballet Company in Melbourne, her qualities as a dancer, choreography and her work as a teacher. She then talks about the formulation of her training system, the development of her company, working with Beth Dean on Corroboree, problems of dance monopolies, Ballet Australia and her works for it, her sources of inspiration, Red Opal Dance Theatre, the development of dance in Australia especially restrictions on its development and her mentors.