Bodenwieser Ballet papers and pictorial materal, 1925-1960

MLMSS 9644

fonds

1925-1960

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs

943290

0.32 metres of textual material and 62 photographs (2 boxes) - black & white ; - printed

Gertrud Bodenwieser (1890-1959), dancer, choreographer and teacher, was born on 3 February 1890 in Vienna. From 1910 Gertrud began to develop her own style of new dance. By 1917 she had adopted the surname 'Bodenwieser'. Convinced that the New Dance required thorough training, Bodenwieser soon provided instruction at her private school (1919-20). Following the Nazis' she was forced to flee from Austria in May 1938.

On her arrival in Sydney on 23 August 1939, Madam Bodenwieser was met by her main group which had just completed a tour in Australia. Continuing to display amazing energy and creative productivity, she gave recitals, opened a studio and prepared a tour of the Australian capital cities for 1940. Although utterly unaccustomed to her style of dancing, audiences and critics reacted with enthusiasm. During the war she arranged frequent performances for the war effort and for charity.

In her Pitt Street studio she created and rehearsed works for her recitals and tours, entertained visitors and trained her dancers. She conducted a wide range of classes, from creative dance movement for young children to mime and movement for professional actors. From 1940 to 1954 the Bodenwieser Ballet toured Australian cities and country centres. She took her company on tours to New Zealand (1947 and 1949-50), South Africa (1950), Rhodesia (1950) and India (1952). Gertrud Bodenwieser died on 10 November 1959. She explained her artistic origins in her posthumous book, The New Dance (1970).

Collection originally in the possession of Marie Cuckson, founder of the Gertrude Bodenwieser Archives, and Emmy Towsey. Upon their deaths it was passed to Barbara Cuckson.

Includes dance programs, posters, newscuttings and photographs of dances including, Life of the Insect, Wheel of Life, 1945, Dance of Golden Discs, Vienna 1945, Der Sammige Freier oder Die Qual der Wahl (The Inconstant Prince) 1925, Indian Lovesong, Errand in the Maze, Marks of Lucifer, Walzing Matilda, and The Pilgrimage of Truth. Includes a copy of The New Dance by Gertrude Bodenwieser.

BOX 1
Newspaper clippings
Folder 1 - 1938, South America
Folder 2 - 1940
Folder 3 - 1945/1946
Folder 4 - 1947, New Zealand
Folder 5 - 1948
Folder 6 - 1949
Folder 7 - 1950
Folder 8 - 1951
Folder 9 - 1952
Folder 10 - 1953
Folder 11 - 1954/1960, part 1
Folder 12 - 1954/1960, part 2
Folder 13 - Programmes, clippings, leaflets, magazines, 1947 to 1979

Box 2
62 black and white photographs. Mostly are studio and publicity photographs for ballet performances. 1925 to 1957.

Coloured poster of 'Gertrud Bodenwieser's Dances, a performance in her memory under the patronage of The Arts Council of Australia, Conservatoriu, Wednes 28 Sept.'

Book: The New Dance by Gertrud Bodenwieser. Private edition. Published by Marie Cuckson, no date. Includes typescript of letter by Marie Cuckson.

Copyright status:: In copyright - photographs created after 1955
Copyright status:: Out of copyright - photographs created before 1955
Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners for clipping and book.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and courtesy copyright holders

Photographs are inscribed with names, dates and ballet performances and stamped with Bodenwieser Archives, Marie Cuckson-Emmy Towsey, 44 Kings Road, Vaucluse, Australia.