[BOROVANSKY BALLET] Signed photograph of New Zealand-born dancer Jonet Wilkie. Melbourne, November 1946.

Gelatin silver print, 150 x 100 mm, with the blind stamp of ‘Steele, Auckland’ lower right, and inscribed in pen ‘For Kerry, with best wishes, Jonet Wilkie’; verso with pencilled date of 21/11/46 (the date that the photograph was inscribed for Kerry, a Melbourne ballet fan, during the Borovansky Ballet’s season at His Majesty’s Theatre); some silverfishing at upper left and lower left edges, otherwise very good condition.

This lovely portrait of Borovansky soloist Jonet Wilkie by the renowned studio of Steele Photography, Auckland, was reproduced in The Borovansky Ballet in Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne : F. W. Cheshire, 1946), where the accompanying text reads:

‘Leaving her native city of Wellington, New Zealand, for England to study Dramatic Art, JONET WILKIE became interested in Ballet and decided to join the Borovansky Studio in Melbourne. Her dramatic training and ability were shown in a dance of her own composition entitled RHAPSODY, to Brahms’ music, performed at the Studio before members of the Melbourne Ballet Club. As a member of the Company she has danced many parts, including the “Mother” in GISELLE and “Woman” in FANTASY ON GRIEG’S CONCERTO.”’