Archive - Hong Kong 1984
Hong Kong International
In 1984, Raymond Mather was selected to represent Australia at the Amateur Ballroom Dance Hong Kong International, competing as part of the official Australian contingent.
The competition brought together elite amateur dancers from across Asia and the Pacific, marking Raymond’s first experience of international representation, high-pressure performance environments, and cross-cultural artistic exchange.
Raymond and his partner Denise were the only Australian couple to reach the finals in both disciplines.
Final placements:
Modern Ballroom, 6th place
Latin, 5th place
Teams Event, 3rd place
At the time of selection, Raymond had just commenced employment with Ansett Airlines in Sydney following training in Melbourne. Upon being selected to represent Australia, he requested time away from the role to attend the Hong Kong competition. The request was met with a binary choice, to remain employed or to represent Australia overseas. He chose the latter.
This decision marked an early and defining pattern in his creative life, prioritising artistic commitment, embodied discipline, and experiential growth over conventional security.
Prior to departure, the Australian team undertook an intensive program of self-organised fundraising to support travel and participation in the competition. Raymond and his partner, along with other Australian team members and supporters, danced extensively across Sydney, performing club shows and running raffles at venues including North Bondi RSL, Leichhardt RSL, South Sydney Junior Leagues Club, Kogarah RSL, and the St George Sailing Club, among others. These efforts reflected the practical realities of international representation at the time and required sustained initiative, organisation, and community engagement.
Australian team portrait and archival documentation supporting the 1984 Hong Kong International Amateur Ballroom Dance Championships.
The collage includes the official Australian representatives alongside published notices from the St George Sailing Club Journal, June 1984, promoting fundraising dance events held to support team travel and participation.
The Hong Kong 1984 experience laid foundational groundwork for Raymond’s later work across choreography, movement direction, event production, and performance leadership, establishing physical rigour, organisational responsibility, and professional resilience that would continue to inform his practice over subsequent decades.
The experience of international competition and national representation also became a foundation for Raymond’s subsequent shift into teaching and choreography through Dance Avenue, extending performance knowledge into community and professional practice.
Australian team members with Denise and Raymond at the Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong, during the 1984 Hong Kong International Amateur Ballroom Dance Championships.
The collage captures official team presentation, performance moments, and awards following the international competition.
ART1 Archive Context
This page forms part of the ART1 Archive, documenting professional work and cultural contributions prior to the launch of ART1.
See more performances, projects and professional experiences in Selected Credits.