Graeme Lloyd Murphy AO (born 2 November 1950) is an Australian choreographer. With his fellow dancer (and wife since 2004)

Janet Vernon Graeme Lloyd Murphy Order of Australia, AO (born 2 November 1950) is an Australian choreographer. With his fellow dancer (and wife since 2004) Janet Vernon, he guided Sydney Dance Company to become one of Australia's most successful and best-kn ...

, he guided

Sydney Dance Company Sydney Dance Company is a contemporary dance company in Australia. The company has performed on stages around the world, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Joyce Theater in New York, the Shanghai Grand Theatre in China, and the ...

to become one of Australia's most successful and best-known

dance companies This is a list of notable dance and ballet companies. Notes References See also * List of folk dance performance groups *List of ballet companies in the United States {{Dance Companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a leg ...

Biography

Murphy was born in Melbourne, and grew up in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, where he took dance classes with Kenneth Gillespie in Launceston. He began his career as a student at the Australian Ballet School at the age of fourteen. In 1968 he became a dancer with the

Australian Ballet The Australian Ballet is the largest classical ballet company in Australia. It was founded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1962, with the English-born dancer, teacher, repetiteur and direc ...

where he had opportunities to choreograph. He toured America with the Australian Ballet in 1970–1971 and created his first ballet, ''Ecco le Diavole'' (Ecco). Ecco was presented at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in July 1971. The piece was set to music by

Nino Rota Giovanni Rota Rinaldi (; 3 December 1911 – 10 April 1979), better known as Nino Rota (), was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor and academic who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visco ...

and featured dancers Roslyn Anderson,

Roma Egan Roma Jean Egan (born 1948) was a child actress on Australian television, and an Australian ballet dancer and teacher. She was notably a senior soloist for The Australian Ballet, and variously performed for the Queensland Ballet, Basel Ballet, ...

, Janet Vernon, and Wendy Walker. Later, Murphy danced with the

Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is one of the five major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside The Royal Ballet, the English National Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scottish Ballet. Founded as the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, the compa ...

(now Birmingham Royal Ballet), and Les Ballets Félix Blaska in France. In 1975 he worked as a freelance choreographer. He rejoined the Australian Ballet in the early months of 1976 as both a dancer and as a resident choreographer. He was appointed as artistic director of the Dance Company of New South Wales in November 1976, renamed as

in 1979. Murphy has been compared to the dancer and choreographer

Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

on account of the way he and his company marketed dance to a wider audience, bringing contemporary dance into a more commercial arena. Aside from his work in ballet, Murphy has also completed choreography for Torville and Dean. On 18 December 2004, after almost 40 years together as artistic and life partners, he an
Janet Vernon
married on their rural property outside Launceston. In 2016 and 2017, Martin Portus (former Director of Marketing and Communication at the Australia Council for the Arts) conducted a number of interviews with Australian choreographers including Graeme Murphy. In the interview, Murphy discusses the highlights of various aspects of his career as a dancer and choreographer: his teenage training at the Australian Ballet School and early work as a classical dancer with the Australian Ballet; his developing interest in choreography and contemporary dance in the early 1970s; the beginnings of his lifelong creative partnership with Janet Vernon; the formation of the Sydney Dance Company and his appointment as artistic director in 1976; his signature productions involving theatrical spectacle, powerful storytelling, collaboration with Australian composers, and innovative set and costume designs; his constant touring overseas and work with Australian ballet; the financial disasters which prompted him to leave the Sydney Dance Company after 31 years; his work and aspirations.

Honours

On 26 January 1988, Murphy was named a member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gov ...

for "his service to ballet." On 1 January 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for "service to the development of dance in Australia and Tasmania". On 11 June 2012, Murphy was named an Officer of the

for "distinguished service to the performing arts, both nationally and internationally, particularly ballet and contemporary dance, as a choreographer and director, and to the enhancement of Australia's cultural environment."

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group ''Live Performance Australia'' (LPA) since 2001. In 2002, Murphy received the

JC Williamson Award The JC Williamson Award (formally known as the James Cassius Williamson Award), is an lifetime achievement award presented annually as a sector of the Helpmann Awards, governed by Live Performance Australia. The awards are named after the Ameri ...

, the LPA's highest honour, for their life's work in live performance. , - , 2002 , , Himself , ,

, , , -

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the

Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...

), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. (wins only) , - , 1999 , Graeme Murphy , Male Dance Performer/ Choreographer of the Year , , -

List of works

* ''After Venice'' (1984; set to Olivier Messiaen's ''

Turangalîla-Symphonie The ''Turangalîla-Symphonie'' is the only symphony by Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992). It was written for an orchestra of large forces from 1946 to 1948 on a commission by Serge Koussevitzky in his wife's memory for the Boston Symphony Orchestr ...

'' and Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony: ''Adagietto'')Sydney Dance Company: Complete Repertoire
* ''Afterworlds'' (1987) * ''Aida'' (2009; for

Opera Australia Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder ...

) * ''Air and Other Invisible Forces'' (1999; Michael Askill and

Giya Kancheli Gia Kancheli ( ka, გია ყანჩელი; 10 August 1935 – 2 October 2019) was a Georgian composer. He was born in Tbilisi, Georgia but resided in Belgium. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kancheli lived first in ...

) * ''Bard Bits'' (1991; Cleo Laine and

John Dankworth Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he ...

) * ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1993;

Carl Vine Carl Edward Vine, (born 8 October 1954) is an Australian composer of contemporary classical music. From 1975 he has worked as a freelance pianist and composer with a variety of theatre and dance companies, and ensembles. Vine's catalogue inclu ...

, Phil Buckle and Jack Jones) * ''Berlin'' (

Iva Davies Ivor Arthur Davies, AM (born 22 May 1955), known professionally as Iva Davies, is an Australian singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Davies' music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in t ...

and

Max Lambert Max Lambert (born 1955) is an Australian composer and musical director. Biography Born in 1955 in Sydney, he studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Lambert composed the musicals ''Darlinghurst Nights'' and ''Miracle City'', both first ...

, based on material by Lou Reed,

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

, David Byrne and others) * ''Beyond Twelve'' (1980; set to Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G) * ''Body of Work'' (2000) * ''Boxes'' (1985; with Bob Kretschmer; music by Iva Davies and Kretschmer) * ''Daphnis and Chloé'' (1980; Ravel) * ''Deadly Sins'' (1984; Lambert) * ''The Director's Cut'' (2006; Paul Healy, Huey Benjamin,

Margaret Sutherland Margaret Ada Sutherland (20 November 189712 August 1984) was an Australian composer, among the best-known female musicians her country has produced. Career Margaret Sutherland's father was George Sutherland, a journalist and writer and membe ...

) * ''A Doll's House Story'' (Istvan Marta) * ''Drill'' (

Steve Martland Steve Martland (10 October 1954 – 7 May 2013) was an English composer. He helped to curate the Factory Classical label of Factory Records, featuring contemporary British composers. Life and music Martland was born in Liverpool, and studied co ...

) * ''Ecco le Diavole'' (1971;

) * ''Ellipse'' (2002; Matthew Hindson) * ''Embodied'' (1996;

Alfred Schnittke Alfred Garrievich Schnittke (russian: Альфре́д Га́рриевич Шни́тке, link=no, Alfred Garriyevich Shnitke; 24 November 1934 – 3 August 1998) was a Russian composer of Jewish-German descent. Among the most performed and re ...

) * ''An Evening'' (1981) * ''Evening Suite'' (1989) * ''Ever After Ever'' (2007; Carl Vine, Giya Kancheli,

Graeme Koehne Graeme John Koehne (born 3 August 1956), is an Australian composer and music educator. He is best known for his orchestral and ballet scores, which are characterised by direct communicative style and embrace of tertian harmony. His orchestral t ...

, Matthew Hindson, Iva Davies, Max Lambert, Linda Nagle) * ''Fire Earth Air Water'' (1977;

John Tavener Sir John Kenneth Tavener (28 January 1944 – 12 November 2013) was an English composer, known for his extensive output of choral religious works. Among his best known works are '' The Lamb'' (1982), ''The Protecting Veil'' (1988), and '' Song ...

) * ''Flashbacks'' (1983) * ''Fornicon'' (1995;

Martin Armiger John Martin Armiger (10 June 1949 – 27 November 2019) was an Australian musician, record producer and composer. He was one of the singer-songwriters and guitarists with Melbourne-based rock band the Sports from August 1978 to late 1981, which ...

) * ''Free Radicals'' (1996; Michael Askill) * ''Glimpses'' (1977; Margaret Sutherland) * ''Grand'' (2005; Scott Davie) * ''Hate'' (1982; Carl Vine) * ''Homelands'' (1982:

Leoš Janáček Leoš Janáček (, baptised Leo Eugen Janáček; 3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist, and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and other Slavic musics, including Eastern European f ...

) * ''Hua Mulan'' (2005; Michael Askill) * ''In the Company of Women'' (1990; with

Paul Mercurio Paul Joseph Mercurio (born 31 March 1963) is an Australian actor, dancer, TV presenter and politician. Mercurio is best known for his lead role in '' Strictly Ballroom'' 1992 and his role as a judge on TV series ''Dancing with the Stars''. H ...

) * ''King Roger'' (1990; Karol Szymanowski) * ''

Kraanerg ''Kraanerg'' is a composition for 23 instruments and 4-channel analog tape composed by Iannis Xenakis in 1968, as ballet, with choreography by Roland Petit and set design by Victor Vasarely. It was created for the grand opening of the Canadian N ...

'' (1988;

Iannis Xenakis Giannis Klearchou Xenakis (also spelled for professional purposes as Yannis or Iannis Xenakis; el, Γιάννης "Ιωάννης" Κλέαρχου Ξενάκης, ; 29 May 1922 – 4 February 2001) was a Romanian-born Greek-French avant-garde c ...

) * ''Late Afternoon of a Faun'' (1987) * ''Limited Edition'' (1982; Graeme Koehne) * ''Mythes'' (Szymanowski) * ''Mythologia'' (2000; Carl Vine) * ''Nearly Beloved'' (1986; Graeme Koehne) * ''Nutcracker: the Story of Clara'' (2009–1992

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most pop ...

; for the

) * ''Papillon Duet'' (1977;

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera ' ...

) * ''Party'' (1998: Michael and Daniel Askill) * ''Piano Sonata'' (1992; Carl Vine) * ''Poppy'' (1978; Carl Vine) * ''The Protecting Veil'' (1993; John Tavener) * ''Radical Study'' (1996) * '' Romeo and Juliet'' (2011

Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''., group=n (27 April .S. 15 April1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, ...

; for the

) * ''Rumours'' (1978–1979; Barry Conyngham) * ''Salome'' (Michael Askill) * ''Scintillation'' (1977;

Carlos Salzedo Carlos Salzedo (6 April 1885 – 17 August 1961) was a French harpist, pianist, composer and conductor. His compositions made the harp into a virtuoso instrument. He influenced many composers with his new ideas for the harp's sounds through his ...

) * ''The Selfish Giant'' (1983; Graeme Koehne) * ''Sensing'' (1994; Ross Edwards) * ''Sequenza VII'' (1977;

Luciano Berio Luciano Berio (24 October 1925 – 27 May 2003) was an Italian composer noted for his experimental work (in particular his 1968 composition ''Sinfonia'' and his series of virtuosic solo pieces titled '' Sequenza''), and for his pioneering work ...

) * ''Shades of Gray'' (2005) * ''Shéhérazade'' (1979; Ravel) * ''Shining'' (1986; Szymanowski) * ''Signatures'' (1979; Alexander Scriabin) * ''Sirens'' (1985; with 4 other choreographers) * ''Soft Bruising'' (1990; with

; music by

Gavin Bryars Richard Gavin Bryars (; born 16 January 1943) is an English composer and double bassist. He has worked in jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, avant-garde, and experimental music. Early life and career Born on 16 January 1943 in ...

) * ''Some Rooms'' (1983; Keith Jarrett,

Joseph Canteloube Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret (; 21 October 18794 November 1957) was a French composer, musicologist, and author best known for his collections of orchestrated folksongs from the Auvergne region, '' Chants d'Auvergne''. Biography Canteloub ...

, Francis Poulenc,

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

, Samuel Barber) * ''Song of the Night'' (1989; Szymanowski) * ''Suite Synergy'' (2011; with Michael Askill) * ''Swan Lake'' (Tchaikovsky; for the Australian Ballet) * ''Synergy with Synergy'' (1992; Michael Askill, John Cage,

Elliott Carter Elliott Cook Carter Jr. (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American modernist composer. One of the most respected composers of the second half of the 20th century, he combined elements of European modernism and American "ultra- ...

, Ross Edwards, Istvan Marta and Nigel Westlake) * ''Third Conversation'' (1977; Béla Bartók) * ''Tip'' (1977; Carl Vine) * ''Tivoli (musical), Tivoli'' (2001; Graeme Koehne) * ''The Trojans'' (1994; Hector Berlioz) * ''Turandot'' (Giacomo Puccini; for

) * ''Up'' (1977; György Ligeti) * ''Vast'' (1988; Barry Conyngham) * ''Viridian'' (1980; Richard Meale) * ''Volumina'' (1977; Ligeti) * ''Water'' (2009; for The Shanghai Ballet) * ''Wilderness'' (1982; Bartók)

References

External links

*
Graeme Murphy's Heritage CollectionVideos about Graeme Murphy's work
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Graeme 1950 births Australian Ballet School alumni Australian choreographers Australian male ballet dancers Ballet choreographers Ballets by Graeme Murphy, Graeme Murphy Helpmann Award winners Living people Officers of the Order of Australia People from Launceston, Tasmania Recipients of the Centenary Medal