DANCE RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2451, 3 May 1915, Page 8

DANCE RECITAL

One of the most successful dance recitals . which Miss Estolle Beere has given for some time was that which took place ill the Concert Chamber on Saturday night. Miss Beere is artistic ill her eifccts, and among her pupils sho has some very clever material to work U P°P\ That Genee, Maud Allan, and Volinin, the Russian dancer who came round with Genee, have left their mark in this country was shown by some of the dances, which were reminiscent to a degree ol" these great artists who have opened such a now world to lovers of tins beautiful, expressive art. Miss Beere is very successful with her tableaux,- her arrangements of groups, in her colour harmonies and dress designs as worn by 'her pupils, and some of them on this occasion were particularly artistic. The background of dark green curtains with which the stage was hung made an admirable setting lor the vanpus interpretations which were given. •The programme included much solo dancing (national and toe dancing being conspicuous), and some daiuty fancies illustrating the Inves of tho butterflies aud the flowers, 6ome caprices, and f™ 0 P el 'ft»'niances by Miss Beere herself. These were an illustration of passing moods (summertime and flowers), and a Dance of the lUanies, both of which were outstanding features of the "programme. The manipulation of scarves in the latter was very suggestive of the rise and fall of flames and of their stealthy, serpentine movement. The programme opened with a tableau, the Crowning of the May Queen, the Queen, being Freda Smith and the attendants Marjorie Re id, Nancy and Marie Stringer, Hilda Saunders, Nanoy Redstone, Isgaire and Renee Leinmon. This pretty effect augured well for what nas to come. Thurza Rodgers followed with some Russian exercises (classic), and later, with Zita Chapman, gave a charming little dance of coquetry, both dancing with - much grace and spirit. Another solo given by this clever little dancec wa<« » bracket, "La. Joyeuse Priuteraps" and "Le Carnival." Doris Symes gave a song and danco ''Just a World of Roses," and a butterfly idyll performed by Lucy Adams and liila Liardet was followed by the "Butterfly Kiss," by Roma Goddard and Olga Leek ward. Rona Chapman, a tiny comedian, entertained everyone greatly with her performances, the first being a graceful danco, followed by a ragtime, and "Tipperary" danced' with an irresistibly rollicking air. Reta M'Gee, ■Mane Stringer, Yvonne Gibsoil, and Zelda- Bailey danced a pretty "Irish Lilt," and Betty Menard gave an "Air de Ballet." "Belgium's Appeal," illustrated by Nell Nathan, did not represent the tragic despoiled country Mat we know to-day. Instead, the dancer was "clothed in line raiment," and made her appeal to the strains of the "Barcarolle." An "Eastern Harmony!" in wnich the colour effects were of rich satisfying tones, was also given later on in the programme. The "Louis XV Gavotte" was danced by two charming little figures, Juliet Williams and Nancy Beere, and Hazel Hardwicke, whose every movement was instinct with grace and understanding, gave two 6010 dances, and with Mr. T. O'Oarroll also danced a charming duo. Mr. T. O'Carroll was distinctly reminiscent of Volinin, the Russian, and is decidedly clever. His performances wore a Russian "Valse Caprice," a "I'olka Fantastic" with Miss Polly M'Laren, and, as already mentioned, tie duo with little Hazel Hardwicke. Miss Polly M'Laren, the champion Highland danccr of Scotland and of New Zealand, was delightful with her Irish jig, and her interpretation of the "Dying Swan," with 'cello accompaniment by Mrs. Frank Johnstone, met with evident appreciatho part of the audience. "Butterflies," a favourite theme on this occasion, wero represented in their flittings by Molly Madden and Belle Pearson, and also hy Marjorie Wiggs, a dainty little figure in her vejy artistic green butterfly dress, who gave a Russian "Copak" later on. Peggie Reeves gave a "Caprice," Ngaire Lemmon a "Poem Dance," "Poppies," and Nancy Redstone performed a "Marclie Militaire." Mrs. F. Johnstone played a 'cello accompaniment to Zita Chapman's dancing of "Loin du Bal." Betty Menard danced a sailor's, hornpipe; Zelda Bailey gave a Poem Dance, f 'La Rose"; and Miss Doris Smith a tambourine dance. Miss Montague was the accompanist in a programme which was generous to a personally interested audience.

Quite an' amusing item of the eygning was the distribution midway of boxes of chocolates and bouquets arranged on a long table, which was brought up to the platform and around which the children' clustered as near as they could get with safety. Each child was the blissful recipient of one or more weighty packagca, flowers in this case occupying a secondary place of importance. A violin solo was played as an overture after one of the intervals by Master Ben O'Brien.