Edouard Borovansky

Edouard Borovansky (24 February 1902 – 18 December 1959) was a Czech-born Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and director. After touring with Anna Pavlova's company, he and his wife, Xenia, settled in Australia where they established the Borovansky Ballet company. This company provided the foundation for modern ballet in Australia and was subsequently used as the basis for the first national Australian ballet company, The Australian Ballet which was established in 1962.

Early years

Eduard Josef Skřeček was born on 24 February 1902 in Přerov, Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the seventh child of František Skřeček, a railway clerk, and his wife Arnošta. After graduating school he worked as an accountant before he was called up for military service in the Czechoslovak Air Force. in 1944, becoming a well-known figure in Melbourne and "notorious for his despotic treatment of his dancers". This tour included an 8-month season in Melbourne featuring the "tried favourites of pre-war 'Russian ballet'" – Le Carnaval, Schéhérazade and Le Beau Danube – as well as a new work by Borovansky, Terra Australis. Vltava was "patriotically Czech in music, theme and imagery" It premiered in Melbourne on 25 May 1946, performed by his company. He discovered and named Rottnest Island and the river on which the city of Perth now stands. The programme consisted of Pineapple Poll, Schéhérazade and Graduation Ball. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Australian Dance Awards in 1999.