‘DANCE REVELS’

Evening Star, Issue 20048, 13 December 1928, Page 4

‘DANCE REVELS’

BY CROSSAN STUBiO PUPfLS The torpsichorean art of Miss Gladys Crossan has been admired for several years, but her Dunedin well-wishers are now forced to admire also her courage. A Dunedin girl, this clover dancer is ambitious, and for the second time she has launched a full stage production with the aid of her pupils and only a. few outside her studio. Her production, ‘ Dance Revels,’ was staged at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, and in every way it was entirely successful. Tiie ensembles, ballots, and solos were neatly conceived, gorgeously dressed, and exceedingly well presented. Dressed in orange, with small bells tinkling as they stepped to a latest jazz melody, ten shapely girls danced in approved chorus stylo and Lawrence Young, a maid of few years, lied herself into knots in a. clover display of acrobatics. With her customary grace and charm, Miss Crossan herself gave ‘ La Danseusc,’ a toe solo, in which her methods of expression were powerful. A charming number was tho ‘ Dolls’ Parade,’ by the baby ballot. Tho little tots took their dancing seriously, to the delight of the audience; and their execution of the simple steps was most attractive. _ Tho dolls were dainty in their blue frocks and frills. They were Jeffy Hesse, Daphne Freeman, Valerio .Seymour, Esme Emery, Hetty Fahey, Ails,a Aheructh.v, and Betty Field; while the soldiers, all dressed in red jackets, were Ivc Stokes, Helen Wright, Gwen Graham, Celia Wright, Lily Hill, Rhoda Freeman, and Allan Field. .Bert Payment's dance orchestra provided a pleasant interlude with novel playing or the latest syncopations. One of the most impressively interpreted ballets was tho ‘ 80-Pccp Ballet,’ with Margaret Martin, Nonna Fraser, Miriam Moody, Stella, Anderson, Noeline Martin, and Yvonne Stokes as tho shepherdesses, and Lucy Robertson as the soloist. _ Tho little girls were dressed appropriately,and each carried, a crook. Their facial expression was excellent and their footwork concerted, and they fully convoyed by poetry of the limbs and facial movement tho story of the old nursery rhyme. A graceful Spanish _ ensemble _ was staged by the senior pupils, and Miss Crossan’s classical Spanish solo was full of life. The happenings of some little forest creatures was another charming _ little story without words by tho babies of the studio, and it was followed by perhaps the most popular ballot of tho evening— ‘ Spirit du Vin,’ with a poetic theme, in which Molly Johnstone, Connie Potts, and Vera M'Stay did good work. Miss Muriel Eagar pleased with her vocal solo, ‘ Tho Garden of My Dreams,’ and tho classes converted the stage into a scene on St. Clair beach for tho display of pretty bathing costumes and general exercises. Tim acrobatic work by some of the young children was splendid. Tho Two Black B’s were billed ns giving political points, hut the best part of their turn was tho few verses of song on topical hits.

A colourful scene was the ‘Courtof Sheik Hassan cl Sabbah, in which dainty maids danced attractively, and Reg Richards, as the Shoik, sung ‘ Palo Hands.’ The correct atmosphere was obtained by an over-supply of incense. In three themes, the classical solo, ‘ The Grecian Warrior,’ by Miss Crossan, was outstandingly .successful. In every sense her interpretation, was highly capable. The Trash Trio worn not audible, in their three lender tales, but the operatic too ballot mafic amends with a prettily costumed and neatly arranged effort. Sylvia and Clarice Alexander sang_ ‘ April Blossoms ’ nicely, and spirited character dancing from the Russian and Hungarian schools was presented by tbo seniors. Eva Milne’s pas seul, sot to Chopin’s music, was worth watching, and to bring the production to a conclusion Gladys Crossan and Elliott Thornton led the troupe in a lively Black Bottom, and Peggy Black and the Merry Dancers brought down the curtain with a dashing ballet dance. It was altogether a bright and diversified entertainment, and Miss Daphne Stokes’s orchestra helped largely towards the success.