The Australian Girl, Italienne Fantasia, Pinocchio, Swan Lake (Act 2)

For this season Phyllis Danaher once again worked in collaboration with Meryl Hughes and Lexie Kunze. It was an innovative program of three new ballets for the company plus Swan Lake (Act 2). Meryl Hughes choreographed The Australian Girl inspired by a scenario written by poet Douglas Holt and the music of Ferde Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite. Miss Danaher choreographed a version of Pinocchio to Viennese dance music, and Italienne Fantasia to music by Mendelssohn.

Both Lexie Kunze and Miss Danaher reproduced Swan Lake (Act 2) and Lexie danced the role of Odette partnered by guest artist Arkadi Novicky.

However Phyllis Danaher reported in the company's May 1964 Newsletter that this ambitious program of four works including the original new work The Australian Girl had overstretched BTQ's resources both financially and artistically. She said that in the end their  program had proved too long and had lost the interest of the audience. Added to this, she noted, was the awkward size of their venue Festival Hall and the cost of its rental, making it impossible to realise a profit. The Southport season however was well attended and did make a profit. The program also played at Gympie.

Sources: Australia Dances: Creating Australian Dance 1945-1965 by Alan Brissenden and Keith Glennon, pages 116-117; BTQ May 1964 Newsletter.

Researcher and writer: Dr Christine Comans