Guide to the Papers of Margaret Lasica
MS 9892, MS Acc08.138, MS Acc10.092
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Margaret Lasica
- Title
- Papers of Margaret Lasica
- Date Range
- 1935 - 1997
- Collection Number
- MS 9892, MS Acc08.138, MS Acc10.092
- Extent
- 8.72 metres (27 boxes + 6 folio boxes + 1 elephant folio item + 1 packet)
- Physical Facet
- MS 9892 = (12 MS Boxes + 1 Medium Folio-Box + 1 Large Folio-Box + 4 phase boxes + 1 map-folio)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Manuscripts)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The Papers of Margaret Lasica are professional and personal papers documenting Lasica's involvement with a variety of Australian dance companies, her professional reading, and the Modern Dance History Project and Archive. The most extensive components of the collection are those relating to the Modern Dance Ensemble, and The Modern Dance History Project and Archive, which was initiated by Lasica to document the early history of modern dance in Australia.
The collection is comprised of photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, administrative records, photocopied articles, oral history recordings, and transcripts of oral history recordings.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3299111).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.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], Papers of Margaret Lasica, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers of Margaret Lasica were donated to the Library by Wendy and Shelly Lasica in February 2004. Subsequent consignments were received in 2008 and 2010.
Related Materials
A small Biography file on Margaret Lasica is held in the Library's Newspaper and Microform Collection.
Arrangement
Order has been imposed on the collection by the Library.
Collection Retrieval Advice
Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there are multiple Box 1's). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.
Item Descriptions
Class MS 9892. Original Consignment
Professional and personal papers documenting Lasica's involvement with a variety of Australian dance companies, her professional reading, and the Modern Dance History Project and Archive. The most extensive components of the collection are those relating to the Modern Dance Ensemble, and the Modern Dance History Project and Archive initiated by Lasica. The collection includes photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, administrative records, photocopied articles and transcripts of oral history recordings.
Comprises 12 boxes, 6 folio boxes, 1 elephant folio item.
Series 1. Personal Documents, 1935-1993
Papers relating to Lasica's professional reading and involvement in dance education, dance medicine, psychodrama and sociometry. This series mainly comprises articles, pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, and other papers. Some correspondence and family documents are also included.
Files have been maintained in the order in which they were received.
Programs and reports from the National Dance and Education Conference, Melbourne, August 1977 (File 4) - Box 1
Talks and a document relating to the AADE National Biennial Conference, Adelaide, S.A., 12-18 April, 1989 (File 6) - Box 1
The papers, by Jo-Anne Page and Ronne Arnold, discuss the transition of dancers to life after performance.
Artists and the "creation" of Australia : a discussion paper with positive proposals (Clayton, Vic. : Ideas for Australia 1991-1992 Program in association with the National Centre for Australian Studies, 1991) (File 7) - Box 1
Newspaper cuttings, 1984-1991 (File 10) - Box 2
Dance performance reviews from the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Shelley Lasica, 1987-1991 (File 11) - Box 2
Newspaper cuttings, 1987-1991, and a typescript document 'Other Writings on Dance' by Shelley Lasica, being a 'discussion of themes presented in the 'Writings on Dance' forum at the Small Companies Bicentennial Conference'.
Scores and libretti, 1935-1969 (File 14) - Box 2
Johann Strauss, The Gypsy Baron (two copies), Henrik N. Ege's libretto for The Gypsy Baron, and a copy of Strauss' Czech Polka.
Correspondence, 1979-1988 (File 15) - Box 2
Personal letters, cards and invitations received by Margaret Lasica.
Programs and newspaper cuttings, 1970s-1990 (File 16) - Box 2
Includes programs and newspaper cuttings for performances choreographed and or directed by Margaret Lasica. Companies and events include the Melbourne University Modern Dance Group, Melbourne University Modern Dance Club, the Victorian Opera Company, the School of the Modern Creative Dance, also known as the Studio of Creative Dance, Image '83, Image '85 and Image '90. Also included is a transcript of the Music Forum from Image '85.
Documents relating to Tourello (Trustee of Lasica Family Trust), and plans relating to the renovation of 246 Domain Road, South Yarra, Melbourne. (File 18) - Box 2
Series 2. Modern Ballet Group, 1953-1966
This series contains programs, newspaper cuttings and associated promotional material relating to Margaret Lasica's activities as a dancer, choreographer and director with the Modern Ballet Group.
Programs, Modern Ballet Group, 1953-1966 (File 1) - Box 3
Includes programs for 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, and 1966 Modern Ballet Group recitals, and some programs where the Modern Ballet Group performed with other companies, including Papricabaret, Tin Alley Players, Victorian Opera Company, and the Victorian Light Opera Company. Also included is a program for a screening of Giorgio Mangiamele's film Clay (1964) which featured the Modern Ballet Group, referred to in the program as the Margaret Lasica Dance Group.
Series 3. Modern Dance Ensemble: Photographs, 1968-1981
The photographs in this series document the Modern Dance Ensemble between 1968 and 1980. Photographers include Ivan Gaal and Liz King, as well as Regis Lansac, D.H.S. Horn, and Jeff Busby.
The sorted photographs in this series have been arranged chronologically by year, and within each year alphabetically by production title. The larger unidentified component of this series has been partly sorted with similar images grouped together in packets.
Giocoso (1968), Morning Song (1968), One For the Road (1968), and Primitive Ritual (1968) (File 3) - Box 3
Instinct C. (1969), The Silent Maze (1969), and The World is too Much With us (1969) (File 9) - Box 3
"As I was Young and Easy..." (1972), Ritual (1972), Suzanne (1972), and T'ung Jen (1972) (File 15) - Box 4
Series 4. Modern Dance Ensemble: Programs, 1968-1980
Programs have been arranged chronologically by year.
Programs, 1972-1973 (File 4) - Box 9
Also included is an oversized program for a 1973 performance by the Washington Dancers in Repertory of Margaret Lasica's 'Have no harvest but a thorn', originally choreographed by Lasica for Modern Dance Ensemble in 1970.
Programs, 1974-1975 (File 5) - Box 9
Includes programs of Modern Dance Ensemble performances with the Melbourne Chorale Continuing Choir, La Trobe University Contemporary Dance Group, and the Melbourne Chorale Chamber Singers and at festivals, such as the CBA Proms, Boort Fiesta and Music in the Round '74.
Series 5. Modern Dance Ensemble: Reviews, 1967-1979
Reviews of Modern Dance Ensemble performances and activities.
Series 6. Modern Dance Ensemble: Posters, 1968-1984
The posters cover almost all Modern Dance Ensemble seasons. Most are mounted on craftboard.
Posters (File 1) - Folio 2
Modern Dance Ensemble: Winter Season '68; Modern Dance Ensemble: [Season 1969]; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 69 ½; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 71; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 72; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 73; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 74; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 78; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 79; Modern Dance Ensemble: Episodes
Posters (File 2) - Folio 3
Modern Dance Ensemble: Winter Season '68; Modern Dance Ensemble [Season 1969]; The Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 70; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 73; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 75; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season '76; A Day for Dancing; Modern Dance Ensemble: Games; Dance '84 at Extensions; Festival of the Arts: 120 Years at St. Mary's; The Modern Dance Ensemble: Studio Show
Posters (File 3) - Folio 4
Modern Dance Ensemble: Season 75; Modern Dance Ensemble: Season '77; Modern Dance Ensemble: Games; Modern Dance Ensemble Choreographic Workshop
Series 8. Modern Dance History Project and Archive, 1944-1989
This series comprises material on Australian modern dance pioneers of the 1930s-1950s, as well as oral history transcripts and notes relating to the history of modern dance in Australia. The oral history recordings that formed a part of the Margaret Lasica Papers are held in the National Library of Australia's Oral History Branch.
Further information on the Modern Dance History Project and Archive can be found in Elizabeth Dempster, 'Talking history: Margaret Lasica's modern dance history project and archive', Writings on dance, No. 4, Spring 1989.
Notes and papers, n.d. (File 1) - Box 11
'Modern Dance History Project and Archive', 'Dance history project - points raised by collected material', 'The relevance of the project, the history of dance over the past fifty years', and 'Gertrude Bodenwieser: instigator of modern dance or exponent of modernism'.
Oral history transcripts, 1985 (File 2) - Box 11
Transcripts of interviews with Ruth Bergner, Hanny Exiner (nee Kolm), Daisy Pirnitzer, and the Image '85 Dance Forum.
Ida Beeby and Patch Theatre, 1944-1947 (File 3) - Box 11
Includes photographs, an article on Ted Shawn's trip to Australia, a Patch Souvenir program on the occasion of the fifth anniversary performance, July 1944, and copies of original photographs of Patch Theatre performances.
Hanny Kolm, Daisy Pirnitzer, the Studio of Creative Dance and the Modern Ballet Group, 1943-1985 (File 4) - Box 11
Includes photographs, photocopies of programs, flyers for Studio of Creative Dance performances, and an issue of the Australian Association for Dance Education (AADE) Victorian Branch Newsletter, Vol. 3, April 1985, which includes an article by Hanny Exiner (nee Kolm).
Elisabeth Wiener and her dance companies, 1943-1952 (File 5) - Box 11
Includes photographs of Wiener, Valerie Grieg and other members of Wiener's dance companies (sometimes known as the Australian Contemporary Dance Company, programs, flyers, newspaper clippings, and copies of Australia Dances, Vol. 1, 1952, and Area News, No. 8, June, 1947.
Margaret Barr and the Margaret Barr Dance Drama Group, 1989-1990 (File 7) - Box 12
Photographs of Margaret Barr Dance Drama Group and reviews.
Sonia Revid, 1931-1938 (File 8) - Box 12
Photographs of Sonia Revid and Mary Wigman, a program of a performance at the Union Theatre, Melbourne, articles and documents about Sonia Revid, and a photocopied letter signed by Mary Wigman.
Gertrud Bodenwieser and the Bodenwieser Ballet, n.d. (File 9) - Box 12
Articles, photocopied programs of performances by Tanzgruppe Gertrud Bodenwieser and the Bodenwieser Ballet, and an envelope containing a letter signed by Bodenwieser.
New Theatre, Melbourne, 1947-1986 (File 10) - Box 12
Photographs, notes of New Theatre dance activities between 1946-1948, newspaper articles from The Guardian and Communist Review, photocopies of the New Theatre Review, July 1946, February-March 1947, and June-July 1947, and a copy of Angela Hillel, Against the stream: Melbourne New Theatre 1936-1986 (Clifton Hill: New Theatre Melbourne, c1986).
Miscellaneous, 1982-1985 (File 11) - Box 12
Articles relating to Jean Demicka, Patricia Edie, and Margo Thomas, a letter and photograph from E. Fink, two unidentified photographs of dancers in an envelope titled Shirley, and a copy of Arts and Entertainment, Jews in Victoria 1835-1985 : the Jewish Museum of Australia, 16 April - 28 July 1985 (South Yarra, Vic. : Jewish Museum of Australia, [1985]).
Class MS Acc08.138. Consignment Added 2008
Includes video tape reels (20 x 5 in., 4 x 7 in.) and audio tape reels (148 x 7 in., 6 x 10 in.). Most tapes are labelled either on their container or on the reel itself. Audio tapes appear mostly to contain music recordings.
Comprises 15 boxes.
23 videos (File)
Modern Dance Ensemble with Neti Neti at ICA, 1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008892) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 7 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")ICA, 1 Center Street, January 1978. Video by Stephen Jones
For Juniors Series 1-When I Move (Item NLA.MS-SAV008893) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 7 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Prim English Street Market 21/06/1976, Chiang Mai-Northern Capital 23/06/1976, Behind the News 23/06/1976, 1976 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008894) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 7 inch Length 23 minutes, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Primary Music, 17/11/1975 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008895) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony 7 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Exerpts from Season 1976, 29/05/1905 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008896) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch. Length 23 minutes, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Not Me/ Women in a Garden. Union 78. Myles Wright Interview., 1976 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008897) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Union Theatre 1978, "The Amazing Case of the Missing Dance, 1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008898) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Scotch video 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")In search of a landscape, Bound Flow, Union 78, 1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008899) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Scotch video 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Tape 4. Detective Scene.
Echo (Dorian Winds), Going, Going Gone, City Season 79, 1979 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008900) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Mary's Solo, David's solo, Duet Day? Dining Out (Item NLA.MS-SAV008901) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")More information on tape.
Composure, Grant Street 1978, 1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008902) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Grant Street. MDE Tape 1. Camera Left, 16/09/1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008903) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Grant Street. MDE Tape 2. Right Camera, 16/09/1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008904) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Grant Street. MDE Tape 3, 16/09/1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008905) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Grant Street. MDE Tape 4. Camera Right, 16/09/1978 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008906) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Celtic Kittens, Doreen's Dance and jelly Roll, Borderline, Grant Street. MDE., Jun-79 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008907) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Street Scene But Wall, MDE. Grant Street, Jun-79 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008908) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")True Grit, Duet in Corridor, Elements in Space. MDE. Grant Street, Jun-79 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008909) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")Celtic Kittens, Doreen's Dance and jelly Roll, Borderline, Grant Street. Tape 1, Jun-79 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008910) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")More information in casing
True Grit, Duet in Corridor, Elements in Space. Grant Street. Tape 2 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008911) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")More information in casing
Street Scene, Smoking, In Foyer. Tape 3 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008912) - Shelf-Tall OH1-19-001
1 item, Sony, 5 inch, Pro formats - open reel (1", 2")More information in casing
149 audio reels (File)
2 - RJS II WAR JIG (Item NLA.MS-SAV008919) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Ampex 406, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
5 - Phillipa & Jenny, Image '83, Philipa's Tape Master, 1983 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008926) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Ampex 5 inch reel, Magnetic tape reel (any size)1980 on box spine
11 - Interval Music (Item NLA.MS-SAV008943) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Ampex, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
12 - July 70 Master, III, Jul-70 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008944) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Scotch 202, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
14 - Ravel Vivaldi (Item NLA.MS-SAV008951) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Ampex, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
17 - Chorale (Befana) (Item NLA.MS-SAV008956) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, BASF, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
21 - Liszt - Wilde (Item NLA.MS-SAV008966) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-030
1 item, Ampex 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
25 - TP-OFF, Discovery Uncut (Item NLA.MS-SAV008975) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Ampex, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
26 - The Seasons Full Track (Item NLA.MS-SAV008976) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 202 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
29 - Pavanne La Notte (Item NLA.MS-SAV008983) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch, 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
33 - Link Eno (Item NLA.MS-SAV008991) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Ampex 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
35 - ANRII JARRE (Item NLA.MS-SAV008995) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Ampex 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
36 - TVP 1377 Pavanne Plus (Item NLA.MS-SAV008996) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
37 - Pram 77 Master + Annie Versions, 1977 (Item NLA.MS-SAV008999) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Ampex 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
38 - Going, Going, Gone (Item NLA.MS-SAV009001) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, BASF 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)PTC Clean Bits
41 - July 68, Master, Prim, Litl Joe, Fred Funny, Villa Lobos, Jul-68 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009006) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
44 - Jazz Class One (Item NLA.MS-SAV009013) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
46 - July 68 Programme Master, Boch C. Store, Sisters Jazz Imp., Jul-68 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009016) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
47 - Songs BS, Warm Up Worker (Item NLA.MS-SAV009018) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
48 - July 68 Programme, Prophesy Guan., Fin, Jul-68 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009020) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
49 - May 69, Joe's master, May-69 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009022) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-031
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
50 - 69 and a half Master II, 1969 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009024) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, Scotch 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
52 - 1967 Worker Performance, Queen Bloch, 1967 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009029) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, American 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
64 - AIYB I, S. Mood, ABBiano[?] (Item NLA.MS-SAV009053) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, Ampex 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
65 - MDE Standby , Influences to Toto (Item NLA.MS-SAV009055) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, BASF 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
66 - First Half M.D.E. Master (Item NLA.MS-SAV009057) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, EMI 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)
70 - Moses (Item NLA.MS-SAV009062) - Shelf-Short OH2-1-032
1 item, EMI 7 inch reel,, Magnetic tape reel (any size)[untitled] June 1974 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009402) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-014
1 item, Revox, 10 inch reel, 1/4 inch tape, Magnetic tape reel (any size)[untitled] (Item NLA.MS-SAV009403) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-014
1 item, Revox, 10 inch reel, 1/4 inch tape, Magnetic tape reel (any size)Master July 1974 #One, June 1974(?), 1974 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009404) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-014
1 item, Scotch, 10 inch reel, 1/4 inch tape, Magnetic tape reel (any size)Discovery, Mood, Vicky, Bob T.
Master July 1974 #Two, June 1974(?), 1974 (Item NLA.MS-SAV009405) - Shelf-Tall OH2-9-014
1 item, Emitape, 10 inch reel, 1/4 inch tape, Magnetic tape reel (any size)Margret C, david, Poles, Ritiual, Jazz and walkthrough. Rubber Soul Beatles
Class MS Acc10.092. Consignment Added 2010
Three mini VHS tapes: two tapes are labelled as "Margaret Walker Celebration, 18 January, 1997"; one tape unlabelled.
Comprises 1 packet.