Elizabeth Cameron Dalman
Dr. Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM (January 23, 1934 – ) is an Australian choreographer, teacher, and performer. She founded Australian Dance Theatre and was its Artistic Director from 1965 to 1975.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman began her dance training with Nora Stewart, with whom she studied both classical ballet and the Margaret Morris modern dance technique.
In 1957 Elizabeth travelled to Europe, London, and later New York to continue her studies. In New York, she studied with Martha Graham, Murray Louis, James Truitte, and Alwin Nikolais. While studying in Germany in 1958, she met American choreographer Eleo Pomare and the two remained friends until his death in August 2008.[2]
In 1994 she obtained Masters of Creative Arts degree from Wollongong University.
In 2012 Elizabeth was conferred a doctorate in dance (PhD) from the University of Western Sydney for her thesis entitled The Quest for an Australian Dance Theatre.
Career in dance
Returning to New York in 1962, she danced with the Eleo Pomare Modern Dance Company for two years. Back in Adelaide in 1965, she formed the Australian Dance Theatre and for ten years was artistic director.[1]
In 1999, she founded WEEREEWA – A Festival of Lake George, which is held in Bungendore New South Wales bi-annually since 1999. The festival showcases local artists including dancers, painters, sculptors and photographers.
She is currently Director of the Mirramu Creative Arts Centre at Lake George, in New South Wales near Canberra.[3][4] She is also a Mentor and Board Member of The Australian Choreographic Centre in Canberra and she studies indigenous dance forms.[5][6]
Elizabeth continues to direct, choreograph, perform and teach, both in Australia and overseas.
Awards
Elizabeth Cameron Dalman is a recipient of an Australian Artists Creative Fellowship; was awarded an OAM in 1995 for her contribution to contemporary dance in Australia[7][8]; in 1997, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Dance Awards for achievement in dance,[9] and in 2015 was inducted into the Australian Dance Awards Hall of Fame.[10]
In 2020 Anthea da Silva's painting Elizabeth won the inaugural Darling Portrait Prize.[11]
References
- "Ousted priestess of dance returns to pointe " | The Australian
- Fensham, Rachel (April 2013). ""Breakin' the Rules": Eleo Pomare and the Transcultural Choreographies of Black Modernity". Dance Research Journal. 45 (1): 41–63. doi:10.1017/S0149767712000253. ISSN 0149-7677.
- Review: Enlightened dance in every sense | Canberra CityNewsCanberra CityNews
- Audience review: Tango Lament - ABC Canberra - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Unstable Ground: Performance and the Politics of Place edited by Gay McAuley
- "Stateline South Australia". Archived from the original on 2015-02-16. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- "Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM record on Australian Government website".
- "Commonweath of Australia Gazette No. S 8" (PDF). 26 January 1995.
- Lifetime Achievement - 1997 - Australian Dance Awards
- "Hall of Fame - 2015 - Australian Dance Awards". www.australiandanceawards.net.au. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- "Darling Portrait Prize". National Portrait Gallery exhibition. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
Further reading
- Pianegonda, Elise (28 August 2016). "World-renowned choreographer Elizabeth Cameron Dalman sets off on next big adventure". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- "Dalman, Elizabeth Cameron (1934-)", Trove, 2009
- Dalman, Elizabeth Cameron (1934 - ) (The Australian Dance Collection: a Directory of Resources)
- Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM (Mirramu Creative Arts Centre and Mirramu Dance Company)
- Delving Into Dance - Elizabeth Cameron Dalman podcast
- AusDance contributor Elizabeth Cameron Dalman