Click images for larger size.
Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke
Social dance and early Australian settlement: An historical
examination of the role of social dance for convicts and the 'lower
orders' in the period between 1788 and 1840.
Professional Doctorate by Creative Works, Queensland University of Technology.
This is the first comprehensive survey of social dance in the Australian
colonies in the period between 1788 and 1840. The thesis investigated
the convict and 'lower order' dance culture through extensive historical
research combined with a series of workshops. It indicated that dance
was a significant factor in the lives of the 'lower orders' and convicts
in the early colony. Dance was a pastime that brought people together,
gave hope and good cheer in the harshest of situations, allowed a
temporary escape from troubles and encouraged people to put aside
grievances. This practice-led research revealed important insights into
the relevance of dance in the past, present and future.
Photos © Sandra Nixon
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| 1. Cadman's Cottage - Heather (in hat) with dancers |
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| 2. Dancers |
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| 3. dancers |
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| 4. audience - Margaret Winnett (parasol) next to Ros Young |
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| 5. Heather & musicians |
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| 6. Heather |
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| 7. Heather & daughter dancing |
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| 8. Heather & daughter |
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| 9. Heather & daughter |
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| 10. Heather & daughter & musicians |
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| 11. dancers practicing |
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| 12. dancers practicing |
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| 13. Musicians - Short Dented Potts & visitors |
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| 14. onlookers |
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| 15. Old stairs outside the cottage |
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| 16. Dancers & audience |
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| 17. Dancers & audience |
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| 18. Dancers & audience |
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| 19. Dancers & audience |
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| 20. Dancers & audience |
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| 21. Dancers & band |
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| 22. Drains |
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| 23. Wall detail |
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| 24. Rocks Discovery Museum - reproduction fetters |
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| 25. Reproduction fetters |
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| 26. Julie & Alex Bishop |
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| 27. Margaret Winnett |
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| 28. Cabinet |
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| 29. Reproduction fetters & footwear |
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| 30. Reproduction fetters |
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| 31. Reproduction costumes, the dress is mounted backwards on the support! |
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| 32. Reproduction dress before fixing |
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| 33. Heather & Margaret begin rectification |
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| 34. rectification ... |
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| 35. Music for rectification ... |
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| 36. rectification ... |
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| 37. reproduction instruments of the period |
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| 38. Copy of Alexander Laing manuscript, 1863 |
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| 38. Colin Fong |
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| 39. Explanatory information |
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| 40. Colin & |
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| 41. Our musicians played the music from the manuscript |
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| 42. Dancing outside public house |
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| 43. |
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| 44. music |
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| 45. dancing to collected music |
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| 46. dancing |
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| 47. dancing |
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| 48. musicians & dancer |
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| 49. two dancers |
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| 50. |
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| 52. |
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
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| 55. |
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| 56. |
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| 57. |
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| 58. |
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| 59 & 60. Brian McDonald, retired Bushranger, MC at 1988 Heritage Ball (see pic 57) |
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