Dancing in Fetters, exhibition at The Rocks Discovery Museum, 1st February to 28th April 2023

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

1. Cadman's Cottage - Heather (in hat) with dancers David Potter, Marina  Robins,
Joy Vohralik, Peter Vohralik, Amy Armour

2.  Dancers

3. dancers

4. audience - Margaret Winnett (shamrock parasol) next to Ros Young

5.  Heather & musicians - Alan Davis (guitar), Kathy Potter (flute),
Roland Clarke(fiddle),  Nel Fallon (fiddle) 

6.  Heather 

7.  Heather & daughter Isabel dancing

8. Heather & Isabel

9.   Heather & Isabel

10. Heather & Isobel & musicians

11. dancers practicing

12. dancers practicing 

13.  Heather & musicians - 

14.  onlookers

15. Old stairs outside the cottage

16.  Dancers & audience

17.  Dancers & audience

18.  Dancers & audience

19.  Dancers & audience

20.  Dancers & audience

21.  Dancers & band

22.  Drains in Cadmans cottage

23.  Cottage wall

24.  Rocks Discovery Museum - reproduction fetters

25. Reproduction fetters

26. Julie & Alex Bishop 

27.  Margaret Winnett

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29.  Reproduction fetters & footwear

30.  Reproduction fetters 

31. Reproduction costumes, the dress is mounted backwards on it's stand!

32.  Reproduction dress before rectification

33.  Heather & Margaret begin rectification

34.  Rectification ... 

35. Music for rectification from Roland Clarke & Nel Fulloon

36.  Almost fixed

37.  Reproduction instruments of the period

38.  Copy of Alexander Laing manuscript, 1863

38.  Colin Fong 

39.  Explanatory information

40.  Colin & Raffaele

41. Nel & Roland played through the music from the manuscript

42.  Dancing outside a public house 

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44.  Nel & Roland 

45. Isabel dancing to collected music

46. Isabel dancing 

47.  Nel playing for Isabel 

48. Nel & Roland playing for Isabel 

49. Heather joins Isabel 

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59 & 60. Brian McDonald, Rocks Tour Guide & retired Bushranger,
MC at 1988 Heritage Ball (see pic 57)

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