Born in Narrandera, New South Wales, the second of four children of Marcus Gorham, an Irish-born railway employee, and his English-born wife, Hilda Muriel Florence (née Somers), Kathy Gorham lived much of her life in Melbourne.[1]
Career
She began dancing at the age of fifteen with the Borovansky Ballet, continuing to dance with the Ballet until it disbanded in 1960 upon the death of Edouard Borovansky. She then danced overseas with companies in Paris and London. In 1962, Gorham became prima ballerina of the newly formed Australian Ballet.
During 1952 and 1953 she danced in London with the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, and in Europe with Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas. In 1954 she returned to Australia with Borovansky, and that same year she was selected by John Cranko to dance "Poll" in his restaging of Pineapple Poll for the Borovansky Ballet. She continued to dance for Borovansky and as guest artist for various European companies until she became a principal with Dame Peggy van Praagh's Australian Ballet in 1962, where she danced a wide range of roles for four years. 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 at her own School until 1975, The National Theatre Ballet (1975–81) and Southport, Queensland until her untimely death.[citation needed]
On 18 November 1958 Gorham married Robert Michel Pomie, a French choreographer and dancer, at Parramatta, Sydney; they had one son, Anthony Marrows. The couple divorced in 1964 and Gorham remarried, to Barney Frank Marrows, an engineer, on 6 September 1967.
Gorham’s son Anthony, a Social Worker, had four children, Jack, Kate, Georgia and Joshua whom Gorham is the paternal grandmother of. Anthony died in 2007 of a heart attack.
Death
After a stroke in 1979, she settled in 1981 at Southport, Queensland, and continued to teach. She died there, aged 54, following a heart attack. She was survived by her son, Anthony Marrows and her second husband, Barney Marrows[3]
References
^Robin Grove, "Gorham, Kathleen Ann (Kathy) (1928–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 4 April 2015.
^"22 Australian Women Who Will Inspire The Hell Out Of You". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
^Obituary, freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com; accessed 3 April 2015.
kathleen, gorham, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, k. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kathleen Ann Kathy Gorham OBE 7 September 1928 30 April 1983 was an Australian ballerina Gorham circa 1951 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 References 6 LinksEarly life EditBorn in Narrandera New South Wales the second of four children of Marcus Gorham an Irish born railway employee and his English born wife Hilda Muriel Florence nee Somers Kathy Gorham lived much of her life in Melbourne 1 Career EditShe began dancing at the age of fifteen with the Borovansky Ballet continuing to dance with the Ballet until it disbanded in 1960 upon the death of Edouard Borovansky She then danced overseas with companies in Paris and London In 1962 Gorham became prima ballerina of the newly formed Australian Ballet During 1952 and 1953 she danced in London with the Sadler s Wells Theatre Ballet and in Europe with Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas In 1954 she returned to Australia with Borovansky and that same year she was selected by John Cranko to dance Poll in his restaging of Pineapple Poll for the Borovansky Ballet She continued to dance for Borovansky and as guest artist for various European companies until she became a principal with Dame Peggy van Praagh s Australian Ballet in 1962 where she danced a wide range of roles for four years 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 at her own School until 1975 The National Theatre Ballet 1975 81 and Southport Queensland until her untimely death citation needed She served as co artistic director of the National Theatre Melbourne She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1968 for her services to ballet 2 Personal life EditOn 18 November 1958 Gorham married Robert Michel Pomie a French choreographer and dancer at Parramatta Sydney they had one son Anthony Marrows The couple divorced in 1964 and Gorham remarried to Barney Frank Marrows an engineer on 6 September 1967 Gorham s son Anthony a Social Worker had four children Jack Kate Georgia and Joshua whom Gorham is the paternal grandmother of Anthony died in 2007 of a heart attack Death EditAfter a stroke in 1979 she settled in 1981 at Southport Queensland and continued to teach She died there aged 54 following a heart attack She was survived by her son Anthony Marrows and her second husband Barney Marrows 3 References Edit Robin Grove Gorham Kathleen Ann Kathy 1928 1983 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University accessed 4 April 2015 22 Australian Women Who Will Inspire The Hell Out Of You BuzzFeed Retrieved 26 October 2017 Obituary freepages genealogy rootsweb ancestry com accessed 3 April 2015 National Treasure by Frank van Sraten 1994 Links EditAustralian Women Biographies Australia Dancing Usurped Live Performance Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kathleen Gorham amp oldid 1164448846, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
