Royal Variety Show.

 

Miss Karen is on the right middle row. On her introduction to H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh he commented ' I'm told you are not Russian, then with a talent like that you must be an Aussie' !!!
During the theatre rehearsal Jimmy Davidson came and sat next to Miss Karen who was unaware of his television celebrity status to which he told her he was a stage-hand much to her embarrassment when later informed by other swooning female artistes of his real identity.



Kasatka Cossacks


              



Miss Karen is left middle row with black plaited wig. Miss Karen's stage
name was Karina Barkovska.

 







 

Marina Berezowsky - OAM, 1914 - 2011.

On Friday I shared with Miss Karen an emotional farewell to Madame Marina Berezowsky AM (14.3.1914 - 19.6.2011) at the Memorial Service for her at the Australian Ballet in Melbourne. Her contribution to Classical and National Character dance in Australia will always be remembered by the world of dance. The afternoon was also in part a joyous reunion of her students and Company dancers...I'm sure Madame was present in spirit.... POEM by Rin Kathy: We will Dance. Give me your hand and we shall dance Give me yourself and we shall dance together Give me your trust and we shall dance as one Give me all that you have and we shall dance until the end of time Give me your hand and we shall dance 

Madame
Dearest Digger,

I am sad to hear of the death of Madame. She had an effect on my life and its direction but slight in comparison to her role and influence in yours. For this reason I know that you will be feeling many things at this time and those things are fundamental to you, your past and what you are today.

I am thinking about you more than usual today because Madame's parting is a great loss for you; I wish that it was possible to be with you now. Madame had a long life and in so many ways she achieved a great deal; even her profound comment about the boys of Kasatka "They have no grasp of the concept of the art-form" helped shape my thinking of art in all its forms.

My thoughts and feelings at this time are for you, Madame's Princess, in the hope that her parting will help you remember and cherish even more all that she gave you. Be gentle with your soul and guard it well; Madame would not ask for more.

My love to you Digger, as always, Goggi xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Director Kasatka Cossacks.
London.

Madame toured Ireland with this company as choreographer for Karen who rejoined them as a guest artist in 1985 for this Irish Tour,....Karen was given an honorary Russian stage name however was always referred to in the Company as "Digger" xx





IT IS hard to conceive of anyone who has contributed more to the broad spectrum of classical and folkloric dance in Australia than Marina Berezowsky, who has died in Hobart. She was 97.
A memorial service to honour Berezowsky will be held at 3pm on July 15 in Studio 2 at The Australian Ballet Centre in Southbank. She is survived by her daughter Valentina and granddaughter Yvonne Collins.

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