They came from far and wide – South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and even from New Zealand. After 23 years since their last Reunion, members of the Borovansky Ballet Company, (the company which preceded the Australian Ballet), although diminished in numbers, were eager and determined to celebrate the "Boro" legacy. And celebrate they did: all 33 of them.
Organised by Adrienne Orsay (Leitch) with assistance from Barry Kitcher, the luncheon was held at the Teatro Tapas near Hamer Hall and was truly a family affair. The Borovansky Company always did feel like family. The date was Sunday, 16th August, 2015.
In alphabetical order those present were: John Bailey, Joan Boler, Sandra Bingham, Patti Cox, Alison Crowther, Annette Dunlop, Jessie Folkerts, Maureen Feheeley, Joan Halliday, Ann Holmes, Valda Jack, Bernard Jamieson, Marilyn Jones OBE, Barry Kitcher, Judith Ker-Stout, Barbara Langley, Jack Manuel, Jan Melvin, Barry Moreland, Jan Nankivell, Audrey Nicholls OAM, Adrienne Orsay, Joan Osborne, Regina Plokstis, Rhonda Russell, Joan Sumner, Kay Smith, Ray Trickett, Valda Westerland, Barry Walsh, Garth Welsh AM, John Maxitti and Jean Stewart.
Wonderful photographs of yesteryear were brought along to add to the atmosphere of much laughter. The highlight was 97 years "young" Joan Halliday cutting the cake and making a speech. She had flown from Sydney for this very special occasion.
Surely without these wonderful dancers, dance in Australia, mainly ballet, could not exist and a debt is owed to all of them. The Borovansky Ballet's longest season in Melbourne at Her Majesty's Theatre ran for 20 weeks from September 15, 1951, to January 27, 1952, including four weeks of The Sleeping Princess (Beauty). The longest season in Sydney at The Empire Theatre ran for an incredible 22 weeks from July 20 to December 20, 1954. No other ballet company in the western world has ever played for such long seasons, and it is a tragedy that this information has never been officially recorded.
When the Australian Ballet was born in September 1962, more than half of the company came from the Borovansky Ballet, including three of its principals. Marilyn Jones OBE said: "It was an era which saw the transformation of a unique commercial company, the Borovansky Ballet, to a government subsidized company which became the Australian Ballet." She added, “there was never any doubt in my mind that when the Australian Ballet started in 1962, it was the continuation of the Borovansky Ballet”.
-- BARRY KITCHER