Mildura Ballet & Dance Guild Inc. is a not for profit organisation offering Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz,
Hip Hop, Tap, Character and Tiny Tots. Established in 1959, the Guild endeavours to promote and foster the art
of dance in varied forms of expression for the enjoyment of all children. The Guild employs professional dance
teaching staff with the administration operated on a voluntary basis.

The formation of the Mildura and District Ballet Guild in 1959 was the result of much ground work in the previous year and, indeed, owes much of its existence to the tenacity of one woman, Joyce, Mrs. Lester Davey. From its beginning this area has had a rich arts community. Plays, music and dance have been an ongoing part of the lives of many of its residents. Dance, in its varying forms has been an integral part of the culture.

By the 1950s there were still several teachers of what was then called ‘musical comedy dancing’. Today we would see it as a mixture of classical and modern ballet, jazz, tap, and any other form of dance expression. The only school working solely in a form of classical ballet was that run by Joseph Ambrazas and his wife, Hildegarde.

Sometime in 1958 a young student, Maria Andriske, was taken by her mother to the Borovansky Ballet School in Melbourne and there impressed Madame Cuinovas. Madame had known Joseph Ambrazas in Europe and, although associated with the stage, he was not trained as a dancer. This report sealed the end of the Ambrazas school and the search was on for ways in which to create a legitimate alternative.

Finally, through Mrs. Lester Davey, the services were obtained of a qualified young woman who had a ballet school in Broken Hill. She was to fly to Mildura once a week to take classes in St. Margaret’s Hall which had been used for ballet classes for many years. The Hall’s floor was reasonable, its space good, and pews could be turned around to make excellent barres. After several visits it was obvious that this was not a practical arrangement nor was it going to be a financial success. It was clear that there was a new and eager generation of parents and children in the district wanting to learn ballet. Perhaps this had been ignited by a recent visit and performance by Laurel Martyn’s Victorian Ballet Guild.

Tribute to Fran Gallagher 

Fran was the Ballet Guild pianist from the time of Algeranoff to Michelle Robinson and was a devoted and wonderful woman who produced an endless stream of beautiful music for the ballet students to dance to. Fran believed in the importance of fun and laughter, that art should express beauty and passion in all its forms. Fran’s photo is in the rehearsal studio and we still sense her presence with us today watching over and accompanying our dancing. The Major classical ballet award of the Guild is named in her memory. 

Tribute to Algeranoff 

“Maestro” as Algeranoff was known to his ballet pupils, taught and choreographed for the Mildura and District Ballet Guild as it was known, from 1962 until his untimely death in a car accident in 1967. 

Born in England, Algeranoff’s career started when, still in his teens, he became first a character dancer in the company of the great ballerina Anna Pavlova. Here and in following companies, ie: de Basil’s Ballet Russes, working under famous choreographers Fokine, Massine and La Nijinska, he not only amassed an immense knowledge and vast experience but his world wide travels brought him in contact with ethnic dances in many parts of the world. He worked with many of the greats of Japanese traditional dance and of Spanish dance. 

Algeranoff decided in his later years that one of his main tasks would be to bring the wonder of ballet to the children of the north-west Victorian area. He is reported to have said, “It is fascinating to pass on to children the roles I have danced myself… I have amassed a heritage in ballet from masters whose ideas and conceptions must be passed on and not allowed to die.” 

It is in his memory that the Guild hands out annual awards to dance students who continue to show this heritage and promise as young dancers.