Guide to the Papers of Ross Stretton
MS 9894
National Library of Australia
| Date completed: | July 2005 |
| Last updated: |
Table of Contents
Collection Summary
Introduction
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Access
Copying and Publishing
Preferred Citation
Provenance
Related Material
Biographical Note
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Personal correspondence, honours and other documents, 1962-2000
Series 2 Ballet Theatre of Canberra, Brian Lawrence School of Ballet, 1969-1979
Series 3 Australian Ballet School, 1969-1972
Series 4 Australian Ballet, 1974-1978
Series 5 Northern Ballet Theatre, 1979-1980
Series 6 Joffrey Ballet, 1979-1982
Series 7 Baryshnikov and Co., 1983-1986
Series 8 American Ballet Theatre, 1981-1995
Series 9 Australian Ballet, 1995-2001
Series 10 Royal Ballet, 2000-2002
Series 11 Photographs, c1962-1990
Series 12 Videos, 1980-2002
Series 13 Other programs, 1980-1993
Series 14 Publications, 1963, 1974-2000
Series 15 Miscellaneous, 1990
Container List
Collection Summary
| Creator: | Stretton, Ross, 1952-2005 |
| Title: | Papers of Ross Stretton |
| Date Range: | 1962-2002 |
| Collection Number: | MS 9894 |
| Extent: | 4.4 metres (18 boxes, 2 folio boxes and 12 oversize items) |
| Repository: | National Library of Australia |
Introduction
Scope and Content
The papers consist largely of correspondence, programs, photographs, newspaper cuttings, articles and video tapes documenting Stretton's distinguished career as a dancer and dance administrator in Australia, the United States and England from 1974 to 2002. There are also photographs, newspaper articles, competition and exam results from Stretton's early years as a tap dancer and a student at the Ballet Theatre of Canberra and the Australian Ballet School.
Arrangement
The papers were received in a range of packets, albums and files and as loose accumulations of programs and other print material. Apart from the early album and some photographs, they were essentially grouped according to the various dance companies with which Stretton was associated, and this arrangement has been retained.
Access
The collection is partly available for reference, partly restricted and partly closed. Series 9.1 CLOSED until 2040. Access to Series 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 only with the written permission of Michelle Potter and/or Janet Karin. Remainder of the papers available for research.
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Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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.
Related Material
Two interview of Stretton, conducted by Michelle Potter in 2001 and 2003, are held in the National Library's Oral History collection (ORAL TRC 4712 and 4936), Biographical notes are also available online at http://www.nla.gov.au/ozlife
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Ross Stretton, National Library of Australia, MS 9894, [series and/or folder number]'.
Biographical Note
Ross Stretton, born in Canberra in 1952, trained as a tap dancer and was twice national champion before taking up ballet. He trained with Janet Karin and Bryan Lawrence at the Ballet Theatre of Canberra from 1969 and joined the Australian Ballet School in 1971. While at the Ballet School he was awarded the Nureyev Bursary (1971) and the Harold Holt Memorial Scholarship (1972), and graduated with honours in all practical subjects. He joined the Australian Ballet in 1973 and was promoted to soloist in 1974 and principal in 1978, dancing leading roles in the company's classical repertoire including Swan Lake, Giselle, La Fille mal gardee, Spartacus and Onegin.
In 1979 Stretton left Australia to pursue a career in the United States. He joined New York's Joffrey Ballet in 1979, then American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for the 1981-1982 season. In between these engagements he also danced briefly with Northern Ballet Theatre in Manchester. In 1983 he was appointed principal with ABT and during that time also toured during the summer months with Mikhail Baryshnikov's company, Baryshnikov &Co. Stretton retired from dancing in 1990 and acted as assistant to the directors of ABT. In 1991 he was appointed the company's regisseur and in 1993 assistant director.
Stretton became the sixth artistic director of the Australian Ballet in 1997. Under his direction the company's repertoire was expanded to include a range of contemporary ballets, including new commissions. It engaged in a number of collaborations with other theatrical organisations and companies, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Bangarra Dance Theatre, and produced its first full-length ballet with a commissioned score (1914, with music by Graeme Koehne and choreography by Stephen Baynes). Stretton's directorship was also distinguished by a tour to New York in 1999 when the company presented five previously unseen Australian works.
After four and a half years at the helm of the Australian Ballet Stretton accepted an appointment as artistic director of the Royal Ballet, London. He took up that position in September 2001 and held it until September 2002. Following differences with the company and Board, he returned to live in Melbourne, where he died in June 2005.
Abbreviated from the online entry by Michelle Potter on Australia Dancing: the complete article can be located at http://www.australiadancing.org/subjects/104.html
Series List and Descriptions
Series 1 Personal correspondence, honours and other documents, 1962-2000
Folder 3 Applications, references and contracts, 1978-1988
Includes application for audition with American Ballet Theatre, December 1978 and for position of Director, Boston Ballet Co., 1984; contracts; references in support of his application for U.S. green card, 1981; proposed engagement for the Australian Ballet Foundation's 1988 bicentennial gala program.
Series 3 Australian Ballet School, 1969-1972
Series 8 American Ballet Theatre, 1981-1995
Folder 1 Correspondence, memoranda and curriculum vitae, 1982, 1985-1986, 1990-1995
Includes performance and rehearsal schedules, contracts and lists of dancers; notes on responsibilities as regisseur, 1984-84 itinerary, appointment as assistant to the Directors, letters of congratulation on appointment as Assistant Director
Folder 3 Programs, 1980-1991 including issues of ABT Magazine, On Point and Kennedy Centre and Lincoln Centre Stagebill,
Series 9 Australian Ballet, 1995-2001
Folder 1 Contractual matters and performance reviews, 1996-1998; staffing issues/disputes and related Board meeting minutes, 1996-1999
Series includes original computer disks and CD ROM copy made at the time of acquisition. CLOSED until 2040
Folder 2 Application for position of Artistic Director (curriculum vitae, references and other supporting documentation, report on his application),1995, Vision statement, 1996 and letters of congratulations on his appointment, 1995-1996
Folder 3 Correspondence files:general correspondence (including re Stretton's appointment and resignation) and re repertoire, schedules, casting, staff structure 1996-2000
Series 10 Royal Ballet, 2000-2002
Subseries 10.1 Application/Vision statement, development strategies, reports to the Board, proposals and Board meeting minutes and agenda, 2000-2002
Subseries 10.3 Repertoire and administrative files, 2000-2002
Files on Dancers, Conductors, Guest Artists, Travel, Schedules, Staff, individual ballets, General and Personal. Mainly copies of letters sent, though includes some replies from artists including Mats Eks, Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, Christopher Pennington, Wendy Somes, Natasha Makarova, Dieter Graefe and Sylvie Guillem)
Series 11 Photographs, c1962-1990
Item 1 Album of photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to early (tap dancing) performances, c1962-1972
Folder 2-6 Photographs, principally as a dancer with ABT, 1982-1990
Mostly solo or with dance partner; also photos with President and Mrs Reagan at a White House function 1986
Item 11-18 Posters, 1980, 1986 and undated
ABT Spring Gala, May 1996 ABT posters (3), signed by members of the cast on Stretton's departure, undated; ABT poster, with cameos of principal dancers including Stretton, for Japan tour; Hong Kong Federation Gala performance, August 1980; Stretton and Kelvin Coe in 'Fool on the Hill', undated; Southwest Ballet Co. Spring gala, undated.
Container List
| Series | Folder/Item | Box |
| 1 | 1-6 | 1 |
| 2 | 1-2 | 2 |
| 3 | 1-3 | 2 |
| 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 2 | folio box 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 and folio box 2 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 1-3 | 3 |
| 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 | folio box 2 |
| 8 | 1-2 | 4 |
| 8 | 3 | 4-5 |
| 8 | 4 | 6 and folio box 1 |
| 8 | 5 | 6 |
| 9 | 1 | 17-18 |
| 9 | 2-6 | 7 |
| 9 | 7 | 8 |
| 10 | 1-2 | 9 |
| 10 | 3 | 9-10 |
| 10 | 4-6 | 11 |
| 11 | 1 | 11 |
| 11 | 2-5 | 12 |
| 11 | 6 | folio box 2 |
| 11 | 7-18 | oversize bays |
| 12 | 1-24 | 13-14 |
| 13 | 1-3 | 15 |
| 14 | 1-4 | 16 |
| 15 | 1 | 16 |