Stories + essays

For Stephanie Lake — recipient of the inaugural Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship — this recognition was a valuable affirmation that her artistic career was heading in the right direction.

A Tribute to Robert Osmotherly’s inspired intellect and vision for dance and dance education in Australia.

BlakDance intern and dance and journalism student Ann-­Maree Long shares her experience of the performance Blakdance 2012.

National Director Julie Dyson, looks back on 2012—a year for celebration, reflection and achievement.

Historians of the future will be able to tell us much about the founding and ongoing evolution of The Australian Ballet. There is however another story to be told: one that survives in the recollections and feelings of those who were part of its making.

This brief paper gives an excellent explanation of the enormous legacy that Dame Peggy van Praagh left to the Australian dance world.

Researcher, teacher and artist Shirley McKechnie had a close relationship with the legendary Peggy. In this short paper, she talks about Paggy's traits, personality and legacy.

Professor Susan Street presented the eighth Dame Peggy Van Praagh Memorial Address alongside David McAllister, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet. She explores some of the major challenges faced by the dance sector and reflects on some of the achievements.

Ross Stretton talks passionately from a performer's persepctive about the challenge for dancers to keep the dance personal, how not to lose the individual dance heritage under the weight of the collective heritage, and to embrace change.

Keith Bain OAM talks about the importance of knowing our history so that we can understand our present. A history that can reveal the interconnections, the progress and the moments of change in the unfolding story of dance in Australia.