Edouard Borovansky

Edouard Borovansky was a Czech born Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and director. After touring with Anna Pavlovas company, he and his wife 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.

Eduard Josef Skeek was born onFebruary 1902 in Perov, AustroHungarian Empire. He was the seventh child of Frantiek Skeek, a railway clerk, and his wife Arnota. After graduating school he worked as an accountant before he was called up for military service in the Czechoslovak Air Force. In 1921, he joined the chorus of the Olomouc Opera Company as a baritone, however as he had an early gymnastic training he was transferred to the corps de ballet. In September 1923 he successfully auditioned for the Prague National Theatre where he began to work his way up the hierarchy before he gained a place in Anna Pavlovas touring company in 1928. He began his career as a dancer of character roles by changing his name to Eduard Borowanski. He first performed with the Pavlova Ballet in Hamburg, Germany. He then toured for seasons in Britain, South America and Asia. He first toured Australia with the company in 1929. However, the company collapsed after the death of Anna Pavlova in 1930, and he an

Source: Wikipedia