Dance is an ephemeral art. This is just one reason, among many, why Alan Brissenden and Keith Glennon’s beautifully designed and presented Australia Dances: Creating Australian Dance 1945–1965 is an important contribution to the light industry of dance historiography. Its eye-catching cover, with a Walter Stringer photograph of dancer William Harvey in a soaring leap above an Australian landscape, will attract bookshop browsers. A perusal of its contents will encourage purchase, as a special gift or for one’s personal library.

Australia Dances records the creative endeavour behind what happened in dance in Australia between 1945 and 1965 – and a lot was happening. Glennon, hitchhiking or catching trains across the country, did much of the research and interviewing, delving into archives and gathering information from dozens of witnesses. I suspect that Brissenden was responsible for most of the writing. The text is informed and readable, infused with sharp observation and touches of humour characteristic of his style.