South Vancouver Island Dance Archives officially opens at Dance Victoria Studios on Wednesday (Oct. 22).
The archive was established two years ago and its committee has been collecting, cataloguing and preserving photographs, house programs, press clippings and other memorabilia from the past century.
Its first project was to catalogue the Wynne Shaw collection. Shaw is credited with staging the first North American production of Coppelia, a classical ballet first staged in Paris in 1870.
Shaw’s version played at the Royal Theatre in 1939. She also contributed choreography to film and television and was the owner of a local studio.
Even after her death in 1985, Shaw’s reach and influence still resonates in Victoria’s dance scene today. Her collection will form some of the display at the grand opening.
Recent acquisitions include materials from Florence Clough, active in the early part of the last century.
South Vancouver Island Dance Archives will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Dance Victoria Studios, 2750 Quadra St. Light lunch and refreshments will be served. RSVP to 250-595-1829 or rsvp@dancevictoria.com.
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