Eugene Utassy
History
Eugene Utassy (1911 – 1972), the founder of the Ballet School, was born in Hungary and trained at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts in Budapest under Vladimir Trojanov, Serge Lifar in Paris. Renowned partners include Dame Margot Fonteyn and danced with opera companies in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York.
On arrival in Australia in 1950 he was sent to Bonegilla, near Albury, where he organised an orchestra and dance company among the many gifted migrants living alongside him at the camp.
He met and married Belinda Blaxland, (descendant of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson).
The Utassy Ballet School commenced at a location in Spring Street, in the city of Melbourne, then moved to the Mitcham Memorial Hall. He continued the School in Mitcham until his death in 1972.
In 1973 Belinda Utassy approached Ballet Victoria and sought advice from Miss Laurel Martyn O.B.E, who had been Artistic Director of Ballet Victoria since 1946. As a result the school became part of Ballet Victoria until that institute closed in 1976.
Dianne Parrington, prima ballerina with Ballet Victoria who danced with Barishnakov and Markarova, and Leslie Hutchinson. Leslie was a former principal dancer with the Western Australian Ballet Company, and a member of the Victorian Ballet Guild.
In 1977 the School formally became the Utassy Memorial Ballet School.
Laurel Martyn OBE joined the school as a consultant, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her distinguished background in Dance.
During her time of teaching at Utassy she wrote her first book – Let Them Dance which features students of the time, Hannah Panelli, Alexandra McCulloch and Rebecca Trevillian on the cover.
Laurel, working with a core group of teachers, devised a program of dance and movement for children aged 6 to 10.
Young Dancers Theatre was also an initiative of Laurel Martyn during her time at Utassy.
At the end of 1979 Belinda Utassy retired and passed directorship of the school to Kevin and Sue Hayes, former students of Ballet Victoria. While still performing with the Kolobok Dance Company they taught and performed simultaneously.
Both Sue and Kevin join Kolobok Dance Company under the artistic directorship of Marina Berezowsky AM. Kolobok – for a while called the Australian Folkloric Dance Company – was founded by Eva Segal. It consisted of a group of nine dancers and Stage Manager/Bus Driver, and toured most of Australia, specializing in country tours. It promoted tolerance between nations, highlighted nine different personalities, was Eastern European in flavour, and was truly ‘multi-cultural’.
Madame Berezowsky, (her artist father was part of Diaghilev’s group of artists) who taught for years at the Australian Ballet School, came and not only taught Utassy students for 4 years but also produced a full Ukrainian ballet – Bashtan.
The Ringwood Ballet Group and Utassy Ballet School presented a holiday season with guests from the Australian Ballet School, one guest being none other than Steven Heathcote. This season – called Kaleidoscope of Dance – inaugurated years of performances called The Dance Festival, held on the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
In 1986 Utassy moved from the Mitcham Memorial Hall to the newly built Nunawading Arts Centre. It was a big adjustment, but a privilege for the whole school to share in the development of such an exciting centre.
The school began to explore new directions in dance and for the first time it conducted courses for full-time students.
The full time students launched the first Peter and the Wolf season, choreographing, dancing and handling every aspect of the production. 2016 marked the 30th Season of this educative popular event. Approximately 1600 kinder children and their parents have witnessed the excellence of Utassy’s each year.
A popular Summer School program was also held in this year which gave students insight into other forms of dance, theatre and production.
Designers, Maggie Mackie, David Campbell, Patrick Gauci and Kevin Hayes had increasing impact on costume, set and lighting.
Particularly Rachel Burke (6 Green Room Awards) enthralled audiences and showed her particular empathy for children’s theatre in ballets such as “Colours” which draws consistent response from young audiences.
Her lighting of Colours, one of the ballets choreographed to accompany Peter and the Wolf, drew consistent response from young audiences.
Alumni
Tristan Message, Angus Cerini, Patrick Cerini, Lilian Steiner, Lydia Crawshaw, Eleanor Beveridge, Jacqui Crowe, Kym King (Woodford), Carmelo Mantarro, Adriano Mantarro, Ben Gauci, Helen Gordon, Luke Severn, Alexandra Giller, Danielle Canavan, Nicholas Canavan, Andrew Cobb, Chris Parker, Megan Humphris, Claire Mahon/Campbell, Annabelle Wilde, Imogen Agar, Emily Ranford, Yumi Sollier, Ingrid Wallace, Michelle Bruckner, Michelle Cassar, Judith McClaren, Ascelin Gordon, Jennifer Collins, Janine Snape, Ayano Kitaoji, Suzanne Watts (Mzuri), Fiona Hood, Nick Sommerville, Katherine Horner, Nikki Hayes, David Ward, Vanessa Kirby, Marion Churchward, Shelley Mardon
We would love to hear news from other former Utassy students!