Overview
Premiered Oct 21, 2020
Captain James Cook: a culture of music and dance
Speaker: Dr. Heather Blasdale Clarke
Date: Wednesday October 21st 7pm BST London
Description
James Cook rose from the humblest of beginnings as a farm boy in Yorkshire to become one the greatest explorers in the Age of Enlightenment. Although he is remembered for charts and scientific discoveries, in the 18th century his life and death were commemorated in dance. He used dancing on his ships to keep his crew healthy and in good spirits, as well as in cultural exchanges with the people he encountered on his voyages. News of his adventures in the South Seas stimulated great interest in Britain and Europe, leading to the creation of a number of theatrical works and dances. Heather will take you on a journey to examine Cook’s life.
Dr. Heather Blasdale Clarke
Dr. Heather Blasdale Clarke is a dance historian in Brisbane who specialises in the culture of European exploration and the settlement of the Australian colony. She has been actively involved in folk and historical dance since the 1980s as a dancer, performer, and educator. In 2018, she completed a doctoral research project investigating the culture of music and dance in the convict community in the early colony (1788-1840). This year, to mark the 250th anniversary of Cook’s visit, her team released the book and CD, Captain Cook’s Country Dance.