National curator Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke will give a talk on Dancing in Fetters: The Culture of Convict Dance at Fremantle Prison on September 16th.

Fremantle Prison is opening its doors to an immersive exhibition that delves into the largely unknown world of dance and music during the era of convict life. Dancing in Fetters: The Culture of Convict Dance is a nationally touring exhibition curated from the extensive doctoral research of historian Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke.

The exhibition, which sheds light on the nature of dance as an expression of freedom, defiance, and self-identity, will offer visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and immerse themselves in the world of convict dance and music. 

In the early colony, convicts turned to dance as a way to escape the drudgery and harshness of their existence. It provided social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and cultural identity in an unfamiliar land. They were encouraged to dance on the convict ships on the long voyage to the colony for the good of their health, and some danced to the music of their jangling chains.

Some in authority on the colony thought dancing was good for “tranquility of mind” while others viewed it as an evil passion and wanted it banned. 

Dancing in Fetters invites visitors to discover poignant tales of defiance, freedom, and self-expression through dance. The exhibition combines history and art, featuring interactive tutorials, first-hand accounts from convicts, and rare artefacts. Convict lives were so closely monitored by authorities, it has been possible to unearth a multitude of stories about their culture from such unlikely sources as police reports.

Later, people sought to forget the ‘convict stain’ and memories of the convict culture were erased.

Convict fetters, or leg irons, on display at the Commissariat Museum in Brisbane. Pic: Anglo&Celtic

Edith Cuffe, director of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Queensland, who helped develop the travelling exhibition, said: “This exhibition explores part of Australia’s convict history and highlights that dance and music can lift the human heart even in our most challenging times. This is an important story to tell.”

The exhibition has already visited Brisbane, Tasmania, Sydney and Norfolk Island.

Fremantle Prison’s unique musical narrative will also be explored, including the story of the Fenians, a group of Irish political prisoners who were transported to Australia for their role in advocating for Irish independence. Their resilience and commitment to their cause, expressed through dance, will be a central focus of the exhibition.

This lost chapter of Australia’s history will be on display from September 16, 2023, to January 28, 2024. The exhibition, developed in partnership with dance historian Heather Blasdale Clarke, has been made possible with the assistance of the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia funding.

Join Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke and Fremantle Prison curator Eleanor Lambert for a talk exploring the exhibition in detail on September 16th at 11.30am, learning about the exhibition’s inception, how it was curated, and a deeper look into the stories and objects on display.

The exhibition will run at Fremantle Prison, 1 The Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160, from September 16, 2023, to January 28, 2024. For further details, see Fremantle Prison.