Lynne Golding

This 25 minute documentary (Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1967) showcases Australian ballerina Lynne Golding (1920-2008) performing three pas de deux from her repertoire. They are offered in a studio rehearsal setting but then danced in a theatrical staging, featuring full costume. As Golding starred in the first full production of Swan Lake staged in Australia (National Theatre Ballet, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, 1951, partnered by Henry Danton), it is appropriate that this film features versions of both the White Swan (Act 2) and Black Swan (Act 3) pas de deux. The latter is not the whole grand pas de deux, showing only the first part and omitting the solos and the coda. Golding is partnered by Laurence Bishop, who made a significant contribution to ballet performance in Australia from the early 1950s through to the 1970s, particularly as a member of the Borovansky Ballet and the Victorian Ballet Guild. The third pas de deux is an item created by Golding and American dancer, Alan Hope Kirk, who also partners her in this performance. It is a a stand-alone display piece, which I presume to be along the lines of the works that were staples of the variety theatre programmes that were Golding's primary employment for much of her career. Golding made her name on the Australian Tivoli circuit, for which she was the prima ballerina in the 1940s. In the early 1950s, she appeared at the Palladium in London, before touring Britain. Subsequently, she returned to traditional classical ballet, working in South America with Henry Danton, before settling in the USA, mainly New York, where she remained until 1965. By the time this documentary was made, Golding's performing days were ending. She went on to become a leading ballet teacher, establishing her legendary ballet studio, first at the Sun Room, Her Majesty's Theatre and then at Chart House in the centre of Melbourne. Blazenka Brysha 22/8/2014 Copies of Edith Pillsbury's biography "Lynne Golding Australian Ballerina" (Allegro Publishing, Oregon, 2008—Hardcover) are available from http://www.bryshawilsonpress.com/