Strictly Ballroom Collection

Acknowledgement of Country

The NFSA acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways across Australia. 

We pay respect to their Elders, past and present. 

A life lived in fear is a life half lived.

Fran

How to navigate this exhibition... a quick run-through

It's easier than a Bogo Pogo!

Simply click on the dots and chapter headings on the left of your screen.

The arrow controls at bottom left and right of screen allow you to move back and forward between slides within each chapter.

You can also use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate.

We hope you enjoy this exhibition! 

He resorted to his own flashy, crowd-pleasing steps!

Les Kendall

Strictly Daring

'There's never been a film like it!'

Sit back and enjoy the ride as we begin with the official extended movie trailer.
Strictly Ballroom extended trailer

The Morning After

Success at the Cannes Film Festival

SBS 'The Movie Show' host Margaret Pomeranz introduces director Baz Luhrmann and star Paul Mercurio after Strictly Ballroom's premiere midnight screening at Cannes. The festival gave the film the 1992 'Award of the Youth' prize for Foreign Film.
The Movie Show: Strictly Ballroom at Cannes

And the award goes to...

Cleaning up at the AFI Awards

This compilation highlights how Strictly Ballroom scooped the pool at the 1992 AFI Awards ceremony.
Strictly Ballroom wins at the 1992 AFI Awards

AFI wins and nominations

Strictly Ballroom received 13 nominations and won eight awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

The Whirlwind Continues...

The roaring success of Strictly Ballroom didn't stop at the AFI awards. 

Along with many other international and local award wins, the film received eight BAFTA nominations in 1993, resulting in three wins, plus a Golden Globe nod in 1994, sealing its place as a global smash hit. 

Listen to the rhythm. Don't be scared.

Yaya

Looking back...

25 Years of Strictly Ballroom

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice relive their Scott and Fran days in these snapshots from their recent exclusive interviews with the NFSA
Strictly Ballroom 25 Years: Exclusive Interview with Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice

First Timers

It was Baz's Story

Producer Tristram Miall talks about Baz Luhrmann and why he hired a first-timer to direct the film.
Producer Tristram Miall talks about Baz Luhrmann

'A microcosm for the world at large'

Great fun, great dancing, great drama!

Director Baz Luhrmann introduces us to the themes behind his first feature film in this behind-the-scenes interview.
Strictly Ballroom: 'A microcosm for the world at large'

He started doing his own thing... improvising.

Federation President Barry Fife

Diabolical Beauty

Behind the Scenes with Catherine Martin

Catherine Martin talks about the look and feel of the ballroom world.
Behind the Scenes with Catherine Martin

Costume Sketches by Designer Angus Strathie

Hand drawn sketch of a men's ballroom dancing costume in a scrapbook alongside inspirational photographs of other ballroom dancing outfits.

A sketch of the costume worn by Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) in 'that Samba' scene, where he resorted to his own flashy, crowd-pleasing steps. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a women's ballroom dancing gown in a scrapbook alongside a photograph of a couple dancing.

Before the very unfortunate Pam Short broke both her legs, she wore this pink and white gown to dance with partner Ken Railings. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

 

Hand drawn sketch of a purple and white men's ballroom dancing costume in a scrapbook.

One of the costumes worn by 'Ballroom King' and owner of Ken's Spa-Rama, Ken Railings, played by John Hannan. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a women's ballroom dancing gown in a scrapbook alongside inspirational photographs of other ballroom dancing outfits.

Liz Holt (Gia Carides) wore this ballroom gown, in her signature yellow, to partner Scott in the opening scenes of the film.  

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a Spanish style black and red dress with a ruffled skirt.

Angus Strathie's sketch of the red-hot, beaded and ruffled dress worn by Fran (Tara Morice) for that iconic paso doble. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a woman in a ballroom dancing costume in a scrapbook. The costume consists of a beaded bikini style top in purple and white, with matching choker, wrist coverings and briefs with a long fringe attached to the bottom.

Costume worn by ballroom champion Tina Sparkle (Sonia Kruger). Tina wore this costume while partnered with Ken Railings. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a green and yellow ballroom dancing costume consisting of a top adorned with plastic pieces of fruit, and matching skirt covered in ostrich feathers and a headpiece.

Tina Sparkle's colourful ensemble from her 'fruity rhumba' with partner Nathan Starkey (Todd McKenney). 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a men's ballroom dancing costume in a scrapbook alongside a photograph of other ballroom dancing outfits. The costume consists of tight black, high-waisted pants and a jacket covered in fruit with wide-feathery sleeves.

Following that 'fruity rhumba', Nathan Starkey hung up his dancing shoes, shelved his green ostrich feathers and left poor Tina Sparkle wondering, 'Who am I going to dance with?'. 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a women's knee-length pink and black ballroom dancing dress in a scrapbook alongside a swatch of pink fabric.

Scott's mother, Shirley Hastings (played by Pat Thomson), got the chance to kick up her heels in this knee-length dress during the flashback scenes in the film.

Click on the image to view in full. 

Hand drawn sketch of a young girl's and boy's matching bright pink and black ballroom dancing costumes in a scrapbook.

Aside from looking absolutely adorable in pink and black, Kylie and Luke provide much of the comic relief in the film. That was unexpected! 

Click on the image to view in full. 

Location location

A prime location in the inner-west suburb of Marrickville, with rooftop views of Sydney's skyline, was chosen for Kendall's Dance Studio. Catherine Martin loved the iconic Coca-Cola sign in Sydney's Kings Cross and decided to build her own version for the top of the dance studio and have Coca-Cola pitch in to pay for it! 

Throw in a Hills Hoist clothesline for a strictly Aussie touch, and the result was a gorgeous backdrop for some of the most beautiful scenes in the film.

People often ask...

Where is Fran's House?

Fran's family home and milk bar was purpose-built from scratch in Pyrmont, a Sydney suburb near Darling Harbour. The site was an old railway goods

yard and was very rundown at the time. The most expensive scene in the film was shot here, involving a train going past the rear of the house.

The milk bar set was so convincing that a group of workers in hi-vis gear entered one day during the shoot and tried to order lunch. 

The rhumba is the dance of love. Look at me like you're in love.

Scott Hastings

Dance rehearsals

Paul and Tara talk flamenco

Paul Mercurio talks about his love of flamenco and Tara Morice recalls being shown up on the dance floor by a group of little kids.
Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice talk about learning flamenco

Strictly Ballroom

Tara and Paul on learning to dance ballroom

Tara Morice pokes fun at Paul's 'ballet-stiff hips' and Paul Mercurio reveals that learning ballroom dancing was more difficult than he expected.
Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice talk ballroom dancing

'You're a Matador'

John O'Connell's choreography techniques

Strictly Ballroom choreographer John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell reveals how he gets the best performance from his actors.
John O'Connell on working with actors

Images from the Pan Pacific Grand Prix

Scene from Strictly Ballroom showing Ken Railings (John Hannan) and Tina Sparkle (Sonia Kruger) in a dance pose wearing matching sequinned outfits.

Ken Railings (John Hannan) and Tina Sparkle (Sonia Kruger).

Click on images to expand.

Scene from Strictly Ballroom showing three women smiling at the camera wearing colourful ballroom gowns with feather trim.

Vanessa (Leonie Page), Liz (Gia Carides) and Tina (Sonia Kruger).

Scene from Strictly Ballroom showing an older man wearing a tuxedo and holding a video camer and an older woman in a pink sequinned dress with a concerned look on their faces.

Doug and Shirley Hastings, played by Barry Otto and Pat Thomson.

A man in a black tuxedo dancing with a woman in a yellow ballroom gown.

Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) and Liz Holt (Gia Carides).

A man in a gold sequinned spanish style bolero jacket on his knees in front of a woman with her back to camera wearing a Spanish style ruffled, beaded red dress.

Scott (Paul Mercurio) and Fran (Tara Morice).

A woman smiling at camera wearing a white ballroom gown with purple feathered trim.

Tina Sparkle, played by Sonia Kruger.

A young woman dances with a middle aged man in a tuxedo in the middle of a crowd.

Liz Holt (Gia Carides) dances with Fran's father Rico (Antonio Vargas).

And it's something that I must believe in,
and it's there when I look in your eyes.

'Love Is In The Air'

Love is in the Air

JPY Live at the AFI Awards

John Paul Young closes the 1992 AFI Awards ceremony with a live performance of his classic hit.
John Paul Young at the 1992 AFI Awards

Ballroom Mix

Reviving a 1970s hit

Singer John Paul Young talks about re-recording 'Love Is In The Air' for the film soundtrack and how 'Strictly Ballroom' revived the hit song.
John Paul Young talks about Strictly Ballroom

She sings as well...

Recording 'Time After Time'

Tara Morice talks about recording the Cyndi Lauper classic 'Time After Time' with Mark Williams for the film soundtrack.
Tara Morice talks about recording Time After Time

Labour of Love

Embracing the World of Ballroom

Composer David Hirschfelder talks about his work on 'Strictly Ballroom' and surrendering to the ballroom style.

That was unexpected.

Kylie Hastings

Did you know...

1
Paul Mercurio badly injured his ankle before filming and was on crutches for three weeks after shooting wrapped.
2
The costume designers bought every Swarovski crystal in Australia but it wasn't enough, so they had to swap them between costumes during filming.
3
The 'Frangipani-del-la-squeegie-mop' speech was written by Tara Morice while developing Fran's character for the original stage production.

Quotable Quotes

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to Tristram Miall, Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice and John O'Connell.

Thanks also to Albert Music, John Paul Young, David Hirschfelder, Australian Film Institute / Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Collingwood. 

'Love is in the Air' by Vanda/Young, Performed by John Paul Young © Boomerang Investments Pty Ltd admin by BMG AM Pty Ltd, Licensed courtesy of BMG AM Pty Ltd.

  • Exhibition producer: Mel Bondfield
  • Curatorial: Jennifer Coombes
  • Film compilations: Richard Carter
  • Filmed interviews: Michael Karris, Matt Jasper
  • Filmed interview editing: Michael Karris
  • Clearances: Bronwyn Dowdall, Anna Yates
  • Oral History, Sound recordist: Bronwyn Murphy
  • Document photography: Darren Weinert
  • Design elements: Cameron Emerson-Elliott

Explore our Strictly Ballroom curated collection.