Guide to the Records of the Australian Choreographic Ensemble

MS 9441

National Library of Australia


Date completed: June 2000
Last updated: June 2000


Collection Summary

Creator: Australian Choreographic Ensemble
Title: Records of the Australian Choreographic Ensemble
Date Range: 1990-1994
Collection Number: MS 9441
Extent: 1.6 metres (9 boxes)
Abstract: Records relating to the administration of the Australian Choreographic Ensemble and to its three major performances - Contact, Impact and In-side-out.

Introduction

Scope and Content

The records relate to the administration of ACE and to its three major performances - Contact, Impact and In-side-out. There are a number of files relating to the company's fundraising activities, as well as photographs and press cuttings.

The records provide an insight into the processes involved in establishing a dance company and maintaining its viability.

Arrangement

Loose papers in the collection have been grouped by the Library. The original arrangement of the remainder of the records has been retained.

Access

The collection is restricted until access is determined.

Provenance

The records of the Australian Choreographic Ensemble (ACE) were donated to the Library by Catherine Beall, who was General Manager of the company. They were received in two instalments, one in July 1998 and one in April 2000.

Copying and Publishing

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Records of the Australian Choreographic Ensemble, National Library of Australia, MS 9441, [series and/or folder number]'.

Historical Note

The Australian Choreographic Ensemble (ACE) was a Sydney-based contemporary dance company formed by Paul Mercurio in 1992. The aim of the company was to provide a vehicle for Australian choreographers to develop their craft and promote Australian choreographic works on a national and international level.

Prior to the formation of ACE, Paul Mercurio had been a member of the highly acclaimed Sydney Dance Company, dancing principal and soloist roles and choreographing works. In 1992, Mercurio had the starring role in the Australian film Strictly Ballroom.

The premiere performance of ACE received much acclaim and played to a sellout season in Sydney. Much of the enthusiasm for the company was attributed to Mercurio's high public profile following his appearance in Strictly Ballroom. Further performances by the company were also well received.

During its short existence, ACE presented two major dance programs, Contact, in 1992 and Imprint in 1993. Both these programs were taken on tour to regional Australia. In 1994, the company performed In-side-out, a limited season production presented in conjunction with the Historic Houses Trust of NSW.

Funding for ACE was derived from government grants, corporate sponsorship, foundation membership, commercial revenue and box office income. Initial government support was not renewed in 1993. This led to funding problems, which eventually forced the company's closure in 1994.



Series List and Descriptions

Series 1 Business records, 1990-1994

The records relate to the general administration of ACE and include contracts and agreements for appearances and production of promotional material, financial papers, staff files and tour arrangements.

Much of the company's effort was directed towards fundraising activities. ACE offered Foundation Memberships, approached a number of organisations regarding sponsorship, held fundraising events and applied for grants from various government bodies including the Australia Council, Arts Victoria and the NSW Ministry for the Arts. Papers relating to these activities are also included in this series.

Folder/Piece 1 Proposal for the formation of ACE, 1990
Folder/Piece 2-6 Applications for funding, 1991-1994
Folder/Piece 7 Foundation Membership, 1992
Folder/Piece 8-9 Fundraising events and special appearances, 1992-1993
Folder/Piece 10-14 Sponsorship, 1992-1994
Folder/Piece 15 Tour program, 1992
Folder/Piece 16 Contracts and arrangements for appearances, 1992-1993
Folder/Piece 17 Contracts and agreements for printing and promotional material, 1993
Folder/Piece 18 Agreements for musical rights and royalties, 1992-1993
Folder/Piece 19 Budget papers, 1993
Folder/Piece 20 Staffing, 1993-1994
Folder/Piece 21-22 Miscellaneous correspondence and papers, 1992-1994

Series 2 Contact, 1992-1993

Contact, the company's premiere work, was launched at The Performance Space, Redfern on 9 September 1992. Choreographed by Paul Mercurio, the work received much acclaim and enjoyed a sellout season. A season of the work was also presented at the construction site of the World Square, Sydney in the week 19-26 February 1993. In March 1993, the company toured with Contact, performing in Melbourne, regional Victoria and Hobart.

This series comprises records relating to the staging of Contact. Included is technical information for stage and lighting requirements, box office figures, budgets, tour arrangements, press cuttings and publicity material.

Folder 1 Technical information, 1992-1993
Folder 2 Budget and box office figures, 1992-1993
Folder 3 World Square performance, 1992-1993
Folder 4 Melbourne season, 1992-1993
Folder 5 Tour of regional Victoria, 1992-1993
Folder 6 Hobart season, 1993
Folder 7 Press clippings, 1992-1993
Folder 8 Publicity material
Folder 9 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1992

Series 3 Imprint, 1993

Imprint, the company's dance theatre work choreographed by Carolyn Hammer, Paul Mercurio, Stephen Page and Jan Pinkerton, opened at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney on 9 June 1993. In July/August 1993 the company toured the Gold Coast, regional New South Wales and South Australia with the work.

Records relating to the development and staging of Imprint and arrangements for the regional tour are included in this series.

Folder/Piece 1 Program development, 1993
Folder/Piece 2 Contract with the Enmore Theatre, 1993
Folder/Piece 3-4 Box office and ticket sales, 1993
Folder/Piece 5-6 Regional tour arrangements, 1993
Folder/Piece 7 Publicity, 1993
Folder/Piece 8 Miscellaneous papers, 1993

Series 4 In-side-out, 1993-1994

From 24 April to 8 May 1994 the company presented a limited season production entitled In-side-out. Choreographed by Jan Pinkerton, it was performed at Vaucluse House, Sydney, in association with the Historic Houses Trust of NSW.

Correspondence, mostly with the Historic Houses Trust of NSW regarding performance arrangements, publicity material and box office records are included in this series.

Folder 1-2 Correspondence, 1993-1994
Folder 3 Publicity, 1993
Folder 4 Box office sales, 1994

Series 5 Photographs and slides, 1990-1994

Two folders of photographs of the company and its performances and a box of slides containing promotional shots of Paul Mercurio.

Series 6 Press cuttings, 1992-1994

Three folders of press cuttings, mostly relating to performances of ACE, but also including articles about Paul Mercurio and the company in general.



Container List

Series Folder/Item Box
1 1-7 1
1 8-13 2
1 14-19 3
1 20-22 4
2 1-3 4
2 4-8 5
2 9 6
3 1-5 6
3 6-8 7
4 1-4 7
5 1-3 8
6 1-3 9