JOLLY PARTY CONCLUDES COUNTRY DANCING SEASON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 30, 29 October 1937, Page 13

JOLLY PARTY CONCLUDES COUNTRY DANCING SEASON

Mpmbers of the cojmtry dancing circle of the Hastings Townswomeu 's Uuild spent a very iiappy eveniug in the Barrie Studio, Hastings, on Wed, uorfday, wlien they conciuded their sea? son with a speciai party. The. fitage was bcautii'ully decorated Witn bowls and baskets of iiowers m shatlos pf purple and yeliow, ilug iiilies, hlae and iceland poppies pxuaununating. ' . The leacier of Ihe circle, Miss *Jpau Loveii-SmUh, was unfortunately absent, bat the Misses L. AVyatt, Hazel iyfirs, Alix Rochiuit and Mrs Payiie took lier jiJaee, and thq pircie seeretdry, AJLrs S, Jones, was also present. Quite a number of noii-daupers enjoyed watching and among thuse wprp the president and secretary of the Guild, Mrs A. P. tilenuy and Mrs P. JL)eans. Members were very pleased indeed to have present Miss MeCrindeli, frpm Liverpopl, who founded thq Mersey and l)qesiuo folk danaing yraneh and has been the chairman of ' the British h'plk Dancing 'Compiittee for 11 ygars. Miss MeCrindeli was intrpdueed fp the mqmberg by Mrs Jones who presented ner with a shoulder spray of cyclamen, iily of the valley and maidenhaid ferii. Aliss MeCrindeli spoke briefly to those present, saying that she was very young whcn she iirst became mterested in country daneing and had taken part in the dancing for about 30 years. She said that she knew Cecil Sharpq at thq time when he lirst saw the country dancing being done in about 1S99 and having proviously colleeted folk music he decided tQ colleet also the daneop. The speaker said that ghe»was a membor of the team who practised dances for Ceeil Sharpo from an old hook which iio disepvcred in thc muscUm. She said that it was in 1907 that l'uriL'h tiuijjishcd a cartoon ufter an exliibiliou of country dancing, and this drew attention to it and iu a short. time many people wanterl to lcarn. Miss MeCrln* dpJl said flint (bu:i| fSharpe used to journey tp any part o£ thf qouBtjy

where he heard thjat dances were being done and learned how to do them, and colleeted them into a hook. She said that during the course of the world tour which she was now enjoying she had been interested to meet the members of many folk dancing circles. She thought that there was a pafticnlar charm and beauty about the folk dancing and_ she considered that many of the Hastings members danced extremely well. She also c-omplimented Mrs S. I. Jones, who played the accompanimqnts for the dancing, saying \ that the music was most important and that it was very well played. During the evening an enjoyable programme of country dances was given and tnese were mterspersed with items, vqcal solos being given by Mrs Buck, who sang "My Dear Soul," and by Mrs Jeniiinson who sang "Comrade of Mine,,; and also an encore number. During the evening a presentation oi a Beswiek ware double candlestick waa made to Mrs S. I. Jones in appreciation of her willing help as pianiste. Mrs A. P. Glenny, the guild president, made the presentation on behalf of the eircle members, Mrs Jones was also presented with a shoulder spray, the two sprays having .been made by Mrs Hyer, who also arranged the flowers. A cteliclous supper was enyoyed by everyone, this having been arranged by two exceilent members of the circle, the Misses Mona and Pranees Grifiiths. The evening was brought to a close with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," followed by the National Anthem.