Tweedie, Valrene (1925-2008)

Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an49682743
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-677073

Biographies

Born in Sydney, Valrene Tweedie received her early dance training with Mischa Burlakov, Louise Lightfoot and Leon Kellaway. Her early stage experiences were with the First Australian Ballet and the Polish Australian Ballet.

Tweedie was the only Australian dancer to audition successfully for the Ballets Russes companies that visited Australia between 1936 and 1940. At the age of 14 she auditioned for Colonel de Basil in Sydney and joined his Original Ballet Russe in 1940. As Irina Lavrova she danced with the company in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. She left Australia with the Original Ballet Russe in 1940 and over the succeeding years danced extensively in North and South America with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Ballet Theatre.

Tweedie returned to Australia in 1952 and in 1953 became third artistic director of the National Theatre Ballet. For the National she staged several ballets with which she was familiar from the de Basil repertoire, including Le Carnaval in which she danced the role of Columbine and on other occasions Chiarina, and Le Coq d'or in which she danced the role of the Queen of Shemakhan. Tweedie also choreographed her own works for the company including Caprice to Prokofiev's Classical Symphony. After the demise of the National Theatre Ballet as a professional company in 1955, Tweedie joined the cast of the Cole Porter musical Can-Can. Subsequently she went on to choreograph for Tivoli revues, to work in educational ballet programs for the National Theatre Movement, and to choreograph for the Elizabethan Opera Ballet Company for which she made her Australian-flavoured Wakooka to a commissioned score from John Antill.

Tweedie began full-time teaching in 1956 working within the Cecchetti system. During her teaching years she also founded Ballet Australia to encourage the creation of new Australian choreography. Her own choreographic works were diverse. In some of her Australian-inspired works Tweedie, influenced by Agnes de Mille and de Mille's efforts to find an American dance idiom, experimented with movement that might express the Australian experience.

Tweedie retired from full-time teaching in 1985 but remained involved with the Cecchetti Society for the rest of her life. She returned to the stage in 1992 as Clara the Elder in the premiere season of Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker for the Australian Ballet. She also appeared in revivals of the work in 1994 and 2000 and was cast by Stephen Baynes in Requiem in 2001 also for the Australian Ballet.

Tweedie was the recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1991, and an award for lifetime achievement at the 1998 Australian Dance Awards.

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Resources for Valrene Tweedie

Resources by Valrene Tweedie (5)

  1. Papers of Valrene Tweedie
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Unpublished : 1938-2008 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 34.173)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 34.173)

  2. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Wendy Pryor
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 1980 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.284)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.284)

  3. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Michelle Potter
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 2004 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.264)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.264)

  4. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Michelle Potter in the Esso Performing Arts Collection
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 1988 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.545)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.545)

  5. Records of Ballet Australia
    Ballet Australia
    [ Unpublished : 1956-1976 ]
    At National Library
    Records of Ballet Australia
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.22)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.22)

Resources about Valrene Tweedie (21)

  1. Papers of Valrene Tweedie
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Unpublished : 1938-2008 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.071)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.071)

  2. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Wendy Pryor
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 1980 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.035)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.035)

  3. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Michelle Potter
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 2004 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.015)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.015)

  4. Valrene Tweedie interviewed by Michelle Potter in the Esso Performing Arts Collection
    Tweedie, Valrene, 1925-2008
    [ Sound : 1988 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.471)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.471)

  5. Portraits of Valrene Tweedie / Maurice Seymour and John Goldston Studios
    Maurice Seymour Studios
    [ Photograph : 1940-1988 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Portraits of Valrene Tweedie / Maurice Seymour and John Goldston Studios
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.445)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.445)

  6. National Theatre Ballet Company / Walter Stringer
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1953-1955 ]
    Possibly online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.399)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.399)

  7. Valrene Tweedie (14 years old) with Colonel de Basil after being accepted for his ballet company, Sydney, 1940
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Valrene Tweedie (14 years old) with Colonel de Basil after being accepted for his ballet company, Sydney, 1940
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.225)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.225)

  8. National Theatre Ballet performance of Le Carnaval starring Valrene Tweedie as Chiarina, Princess Theatre, 1953 / Walter Stringer
    Stringer, Walter, 1907-2001
    [ Photograph : 1953 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    National Theatre Ballet performance of Le Carnaval starring Valrene Tweedie as Chiarina, Princess Theatre, 1953 / Walter Stringer
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.2)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.2)

  9. Valrene Tweedie taking a curtain call, Ballet Australia performance, 1970s / Vincent H. Hayes
    Hayes, Vincent H
    [ Photograph : 1970 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.127)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.127)

  10. Portrait of Leigh Warren in Valrene Tweedie's studio, Sydney, ca. 1967 / Leonie Vining Brown
    Vining Brown, Leone, 1930-
    [ Photograph : 1967 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Portrait of Leigh Warren in Valrene Tweedie's studio, Sydney, ca. 1967 / Leonie Vining Brown
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.413)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.413)

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  1. Pask, Edward H., (Edward Henry) (1940-)
    ... in the early 1950s with Valrene Tweedie at the National Theatre Ballet School ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

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    ... in the life of Ned Kelly. He also auditioned Australian dancers and one, Valrene ...
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  3. Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
    ... commissioned Wakooka by Valrene Tweedie, set to the music of John Antill ...
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  1. Wakooka (1957 - )
    Wakooka (1957 - )
    Created by NLAdance, 8 items.

    Wakooka with choreography by Valrene Tweedie, a commissioned score by John Antill and designs by Elaine Haxton, premiered in 1957 in Brisbane. Danced by the Elizabethan Opera Ballet Compan...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

  2. Francesca da Rimini (Australian context)
    Francesca da Rimini (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 16 items.

    Francesca da Rimini, with choreography by David Lichine, premiered in London on 15 July 1937. Danced to music by Tchaikovsky - his Fantasy after Dante, Francesca da Rimini - it h...

    Keywords: test tag
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  3. Le Coq d'or (Australian context)
    Le Coq d'or (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 15 items.

    The ballet Le Coq d'or (The Golden Cockerel) was originally staged in 1914 by Michel Fokine for Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. This work was an opera-ballet, a danced interpretation of th...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

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    Brolga
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  2. Wakooka : ballet suite / John Antill
    Antill, John, 1904-1986
    [ Printed music : 1957 ]
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    McLennan, Andrew
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    [ Printed music : 1961 ]
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    [ Book : 1950 ]
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  4. The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo: Concerto Barocco
    Mitchell, Howard, 1911-1988
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  1. Portraits of Valrene Tweedie / Maur...
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    [ Photograph : 1940-1988 ]
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    [ Photograph : 1970 ]
  4. Valrene Tweedie (14 years old) with...
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    Valrene Tweedie (14 years old) with Colonel de Basil after being accepted for his ballet company, Sydney, 1940
  5. Valrene Tweedie and Georges Verdak ...
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    [ Photograph : 1948-1949 ]
    Valrene Tweedie and Georges Verdak in the Czardas from Raymonda Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, ca. 1948 / Maurice Seymour
  6. Valrene Tweedie in 'Quelques Fleurs...
    Boris, Ruthanna...
    [ Photograph : 1947-1948 ]
    Valrene Tweedie in 'Quelques Fleurs', New York, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1947-48 / Maurice Seymour
  1. Papers of Michelle Potter
    Potter, Michelle, 1944-
    [ Unpublished : 1988-2010 ]
    At National Library
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  2. Papers of John Antill
    Antill, John, 1904-1986
    [ Unpublished : 1872-1987 ]
    At National Library
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  3. Papers of Harcourt Algeranoff
    Algeranoff, Harcourt, 1903-1967
    [ Unpublished : 1830-1967 ]
    At National Library
    Papers of Harcourt Algeranoff
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  1. CUBANI DANCER
    The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 12 February 1953 p 11 Article Illustrated
    ... (CUBANI DANCER I Valrene Tweedie, director and principal dancer of the National tional Ballet Co., which will perform in Hobart soon. Miss Tweedie is a Sydney girl, who gained most of her ex- perience with the Monte Carlo and De Basil companies in London and America. She has been brought to ... 63 words
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  2. She will dance in 'Caprice'
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 21 January 1953 p 4 Article
    ... She will dance in 'Caprice' MISS VALRENE 1'x TWEEDIE, Sydney ballerina, will dance in her own ballet, "Caprice," in the Coro- nation Arts Festival at the National Theatre, Eastern Hill, on Jan- uary ... Tweedie was one of several festival stars introduced by the National Theatre at a sherry party ... 67 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.024)

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  3. YOUNG SYDNEY DANCER WITH DE BASIL'S BALLET Touring North America
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 24 June 1941 Supplement: Women's Supplement p 15 Article Illustrated
    ...ption, of a bull fight which she saw Sydney as Velrena Tweedie. Sha it now a member of the de Basil lallat Company, and for her 16 th birthday in Mexico have been sent to her mother, Valrene Tweedie, ... die saw in Mexico have been sent to her mother, Mrs. R. Tweedie, of Sydney, by Valrene Tweedie, now ... 374 words
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  1. Website: Australia dancing
    www.australiadancing.org
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  2. Website: Ballets Russes in Australia : our cultural revolution
    blogs-devel.nla.gov.au
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  3. Website: Ausdance : Australia's professional dance advocacy organisation
    www.ausdance.org.au
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.031)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.031)

  1. Farewell Valrene Tweedie (1925-2008) [Obituary]
    Willoughby, Athol
    Dance Australia
    [ Article : 2008 ]
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  2. The fire and the rose: Valrene Tweedie, OAM: 29 March 1925 - 4 August 2008. [Obituary]
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    Brolga
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  3. Inspiring mentors Valrene Tweedie and Laurel Martyn
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  4. The Fire and the Rose: Valrene Tweedie OAM: 29 March 1925 - 4 August 2008
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