Editing Robert Helpmann (section)

===Early years===
[[File:Helpmann Family, Mt. Gambier, 1911.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Helpmann and his parents in 1911|alt=blakc and white photograph of a young man and woman in an early 20th century open-top motor-car, with young child between them.]]

Helpmann was born in [[Mount Gambier, South Australia]], the eldest of the three children of James Murray Helpman (1881–1927), a [[stock and station agent]] and auctioneer, and his wife, Mary, ''née'' Gardiner (1883–1970).<ref name=dnb>Sorley Walker, Kathrine (2011). [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093 "Helpmann, Sir Robert Murray (1909–1986), ballet dancer and actor"], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 May 2019 {{ODNBsub}}</ref> Mary Helpman had a passion for the theatre, and her enthusiasm was passed on to all three of her children. Helpmann's younger brother Max (1914–1987) and their sister Sheila (1916–1994) both made their own careers on stage, television and screen.<ref name=adb>Sexton, Christopher (2007). [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/helpmann-sir-robert-murray-12620/text22735 "Helpmann, Sir Robert Murray (1909–1986)"], ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 19 May 2019.</ref>

After being what his biographer [[Kathrine Sorley Walker]] calls "an uninterested and recalcitrant scholar" at  [[Prince Alfred College|Prince Alfred College, Adelaide]], Helpmann was taken on as a student apprentice by [[Anna Pavlova]] when she was on tour in Australia in 1926.<ref name=dnb/> He was trained by Alexis Dolinoff, her leading male dancer.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40746770 An Adelaide Dancer"], ''The Advertiser'', 4 December 1926, p. 14</ref> He then joined the theatrical producers [[J. C. Williamson|J. C. Williamson Ltd]], as principal dancer for musicals, revues, and pantomimes, beginning with [[Franz Lehár]]'s ''Frasquita'' in 1927.<ref name=adb/> He later appeared in ''[[Katinka (operetta)|Katinka]]'', ''[[The Merry Widow]]'', ''[[The New Moon]]'', ''Queen High'', ''[[This Year of Grace]]'' and ''[[Tip-Toes]]'', appearing with stars such as [[Gladys Moncrieff]], [[Marie Burke]] and [[Maisie Gay]]. Sorley Walker writes, "His vitality and bravura presentation of dances stopped various shows".<ref>Sorley Walker (1998a), p. 7</ref>

Robert Helpmann cited Melbourne eccentric, beautician, radio broadcaster, actor and dancer [[Stephanie Deste]] as one of the influences over his dancing and acting career.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18727797/stephanie_deste/|title=Stephanie Deste|newspaper=The Age|date=28 May 1996|page=14}}</ref>