Black Rhythm

Extract

Roslyn Watson likes to stand out from the crowd. Which is almost unavoidable when you’re the only Aboriginal dancer on stage with the Queensland Ballet Company.

But being black in the very white, very competitive world of Australian ballet was not always an advantage. It has never been easy.

Roslyn has just started a five-week tour of the State, teaching dance to Aboriginal and white children in remote northern and far western outposts. Before she left she said: “I started late because we were handicapped financially. I had to really struggle.” When she said: “I think I’m a very determined person,” you knew she was not kidding. And when she said: “I am the first Aboriginal person to become a professional ballet dancer,” you understood the pride in her voice.

Born in Brisbane 24 years ago, she arrived third in a family of six children. Perhaps she inherited some of that determination from her parents. “Mum and dad both worked to put us all through school,” she said. “They were right behind us.” And there was every encouragement when she started learning ballet at the age of 12. “But I wouldn’t have been able to continue my dancing if I hadn’t got a study grant.”

That was in 1970 – she was 15 years old and Kathleen Gorham’s School of Dancing in Melbourne was a long way from the suburban Brisbane ballet classes. At first it was a disaster – she was not measuring up – and the crunch came when she had to return to Brisbane for a wedding. “Miss Gorham said when you get on the bus to Brisbane don’t bloody bother coming back,” said Roslyn.