Kathleen Gorham

Kathleen Gorham OBE (7 September 1928 - 30 April 1983) was an Australian ballerina.

Born in Narrandera, New South Wales, she lived much of her life in Melbourne. For professional reasons, Gorham adjusted both the date and location of her birth in latter years, and this is still reflected in some sources.

Gorham began dancing at the age of fifteen with the Borovansky Ballet, continuing to dance with the Ballet until it finally disbanded in 1960 on the death of Edouard Borovansky. She then danced overseas with companies in Paris and London. In 1962 Kathleen Gorham became prima ballerina of the newly formed Australian Ballet. She danced new roles in association with Robert Helpmann and played an important role in the artistic development of the new ballet company. She retired from dancing after the Australian Ballet's first overseas tour in 1966, and then taught ballet in Melbourne and Southport, Queensland until her death.

Gorham also served as co-artistic director of the National Theatre in Melbourne. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1968 for her services to ballet. She died in Southport.

References

* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ushersomers/Gorham%20Kathleen.htm Obituary]
* [http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0259b.htm Australian Women Biographies]
* [http://www.australiadancing.org/subjects/141.html Australia Dancing]
* [http://www.binaryblue.com.au/LPA/kathleengorham1.html Live Performance Australia]