It is impossible to tell the story of dance in Australia without telling the story of Dame Margaret Scott, the founding Director of the School and a dancer and teacher of immense vision and intellect.
This book is a wonderful celebration of the life of Dame Maggie Scott, whose contribution to Australian dance over the last 67 years has been immense. This inspiring biography tells the incredible story of the pioneering figure of Australian ballet.
Born in Johannesburg in 1922, Maggie showed an early love of dance and was encouraged to go overseas for further training, but just six weeks after her arrival in the UK, war with Germany was declared. Scott toured relentlessly to entertain troops throughout the war and was a regular at Albert Hall. In 1942 she joined the esteemed Ballet Rambert, and travelled to Australia with them by ship in 1947. Her account of Australia in the 1940s is fascinating.
The inspirational Dame Maggie trained dancers who are now recognised worldwide as exceptional performers, choreographers, directors and teachers. She famously returned to the stage in Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker in 1992, 1994 and again in 2000 at the age of 78.
Available for $49.95 from all good book stores or directly from Text Publishing.
About the author
Michelle Potter is a dance writer, historian and curator with a doctorate in Art History and Dance History from the Australian National University. She is the recipient of two Australian Dance Awards: Services to Dance in 2003 and Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film in 2001.