Taking centre stage at The Tivoli theatre in Sydney, Australia, on the 6th of February 1954, the young, white, American dancer Beth Dean performed the role of the ‘Boy Initiate’ at the premiere of her ballet Corroboree, dancing for the young English Queen Elizabeth II for whom the gala performance had been arranged.  Dean’s body was costumed in a brown wool leotard and leggings, and her hands, bare feet, neck and face were painted dark brown to appear as an Australian Aboriginal boy who was about to face the trial of initiation into manhood.  The ballet was an instant success and toured extensively across Australia, thrilling white audiences as the closing number in a mixed bill of classical and contemporary ballet.

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Danced to a score by John Antill, the ballet was remounted in 1970 by Dean, with the African American dancer Ronne Arnold dancing the lead role of 'Boy Initiate'.