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Murray-Will, Ewan: Ballet Russes in Australia (c.1939)

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clip Performing on the beach education content clip 3

Original classification rating: not rated. This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

Wearing what looks to be Christmas decorations around her neck, a female dancer, crouched on a rock, alerts her sleeping friend to something out to sea. A man carrying an unconscious woman emerges from the waves. He tries to revive her, but unsuccessful, goes to get help. He welters under the heat and collapses. Meanwhile, the woman regains consciousness and after looking for the man, heads over to the rocks where the crouching enemy awaits to capture her. He springs out from the cover of the rocks, grabs her and carries her away.

Curator’s notes

by Poppy De Souza

While not exactly demonstrating their extraordinary dance abilities, this clip does show a light, unhindered side to members of the Ballets Russes. Semi-rehearsed (and possibly a scene from one of their performed ballets), this clip is playful and provides a glimpse of some of the ways in which the dancers relaxed and had fun while taking a break at Murray-Will’s Bungan Beach holiday house. This is also an example of Murray-Will’s use of editing and framing of shots. He breaks up the scenario into a number of shots, and has edited them together.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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